Alert Hampton Roads schools paused wearing JROTC uniforms before ODU attack Colin Warren-Hicks The Virginian-Pilot Mar 18, 2026 Mar 18, 2026 Updated 2 hrs ago 0 Facebook Twitter Bluesky WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save Even before last week’s attack against a ROTC classroom at Old Dominion University, the U.S. military had been showing some concern.kAm$EF56?ED 6?C@==65 :? y#~%r AC@8C2>D H:E9:? w2>AE@? D49@@=D 925 366? E@=5 ?@E E@ H62C E96:C F?:7@C>D >@C6 E92? 2 H66< AC:@C E@ E96 D9@@E:?8 2E ~s&] %96 D49@@= 5:DEC:4E :>A=6>6?E65 :ED E6>A@C2CJ DFDA6?D:@? 32D65 @? 4@F?D6= AC@G:565 3J E96 >:=:E2CJ]k^Am Bethel High School Army JROTC Honor Guard presents the colors in this 2023 file photo. Stephen M. Katz/The Virginian-Pilot kAmx? E96 7:CDE H66< @7 |2C49[ 9:89 D49@@= AC:?4:A2=D D6?E 2 >6DD286 E@ 72>:=:6D @7 y#~%r DEF56?EDi “sF6 E@ C646?E 6G6?ED @44FCC:?8 @G6CD62D[ D6G6C2= 3C2?496D @7 E96 &]$] >:=:E2CJ 92G6 :DDF65 AC642FE:@?2CJ 8F:52?46 C6=2E65 E@ E96 H62C @7 >:=:E2CJ\DEJ=6 F?:7@C>D 3J 4256ED]”k^Am People are also reading… A year of transformation for the Saltville PD Adding river float trips in Chilhowie is one tourism goal Smyth School Board celebrates student achievements Meet Smyth’s Pet of the Week: Diamond Smyth's Democratic Party finds new life Smyth schools prepare to welcome Pre-K, kindergarten students at registration 100+ Smyth residents develop action plan to address opioid addiction crisis Virginia General Assembly going to special session to resolve budget standoff Update: One victim, gunman dead after shooting in ODU classroom Smyth County's Val Mutter: An Unsung Legal Hero Marion OKs adding fee to delinquent taxes to help collect them Update: ODU students disarmed and killed gunman who attacked classroom, source says US military refueling plane goes down in Iraq; 4 dead as rescue efforts continue Man killed in ODU shooting identified as head of university’s Army ROTC Spanberger sends message with appointments to higher ed panel kAm%96C6 2C6 7@FC AF3=:4 9:89 D49@@=D :? w2>AE@? E92E 6249 92D y#~%r AC@8C2>D C6AC6D6?E:?8 E96 }2GJ[ |2C:?6 r@CAD[ pC>J 2?5 p:C u@C46]k^AmkAm“pE E9:D E:>6[ 2== 7@FC 3C2?496D 92G6 AC@G:565 8F:52?46 C6=2E65 E@ F?:7@C> H62C[ E9@F89 D@>6 3C2?496D 92G6 :DDF65 >@C6 C6DEC:4E:G6 5:C64E:@?D E92? @E96CD[” E96 >6DD286 4@?E:?F65] “%@ 6?DFC6 2 4@?D:DE6?E 2AAC@249 24C@DD E96 5:G:D:@?[ 2== 4256ED 24C@DD @FC D49@@=D H:== E6>A@C2C:=J DFDA6?5 H62C:?8 E96:C F?:7@C>D E@ 2?5 7C@> D49@@= F?E:= 7FCE96C 8F:52?46 :D C646:G65]k^AmkAm“!=62D6 36 2DDFC65 E92E E96C6 :D 4FCC6?E=J ?@ <?@H? E9C62E E@ 2?J }y#~%r AC@8C2> @C D49@@= 42>AFD] %9:D DE6A :D 36:?8 E2<6? @FE @7 2? 23F?52?46 @7 42FE:@? 2?5 :? 2=:8?>6?E H:E9 8F:52?46 AC@G:565 3J >:=:E2CJ A2CE?6CD]”k^Am kAm~? uC:52J[ 2 DA@<6DA6CD@? 7@C }@C7@=< r:EJ $49@@=D 4@?7:C>65 y#~%r DEF56?ED 2E AF3=:4 9:89 D49@@= :? }@C7@=< 925 2=D@ 366? 2D<65 E@ ?@E H62C E96:C F?:7@C>D 3FE 5:5 ?@E D2J H96? E96 DFDA6?D:@? @7 F?:7@C>D 925 DE2CE65]k^Am Colin Warren-Hicks, 919-818-8139, colin.warrenhicks@virginiamedia.com 0 Comments Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Related to this story Most Popular Update: ODU students disarmed and killed gunman who attacked classroom, source says As he barged in, one source said, Mohamed Bailor Jalloh was heard to shout “Allahu akbar,” the Arabic phrase for God is great. Man killed in ODU shooting identified as head of university’s Army ROTC A man once convicted of offering support to a terrorist group burst into an ROTC classroom at Old Dominion University on Thursday morning and … Former Hampton GOP delegate behind an anti-redistricting flyer invoking Jim Crow The circulation of campaign flyers urging Black Virginians to vote against a redistricting referendum was roundly criticized by Democrats this week. Watch Now: Related Video No, dolphins didn’t kidnap a Florida man. Fake, viral story explained United Farm Workers skips Cesar Chavez Day events amid allegations United Farm Workers skips Cesar Chavez Day events amid allegations Spring Break Sticker Shock: How Rising Oil Prices Are Hitting Travelers Spring Break Sticker Shock: How Rising Oil Prices Are Hitting Travelers Trump says NATO is making a ‘very foolish mistake’ by not assisting US in Iran war AP Trump says NATO is making a ‘very foolish mistake’ by not assisting US in Iran war
Update: ODU students disarmed and killed gunman who attacked classroom, source says As he barged in, one source said, Mohamed Bailor Jalloh was heard to shout “Allahu akbar,” the Arabic phrase for God is great.
Man killed in ODU shooting identified as head of university’s Army ROTC A man once convicted of offering support to a terrorist group burst into an ROTC classroom at Old Dominion University on Thursday morning and …
Former Hampton GOP delegate behind an anti-redistricting flyer invoking Jim Crow The circulation of campaign flyers urging Black Virginians to vote against a redistricting referendum was roundly criticized by Democrats this week.
