ODU Active Shooter: Gunman Dead, 2 Injured at Constant Hall

Two Injured, Gunman Deceased After Active Shooter Threat at Old Dominion University

NORFOLK, Va. — A morning of academic routine turned into a scene of chaos and fear at Old Dominion University on Thursday, as an active shooter incident inside an academic building left two people injured and the suspect dead.

University officials and local law enforcement confirmed that the threat was neutralized shortly after 11:30 a.m., following a tense hour where students and faculty were ordered to shelter in place and follow "Run-Hide-Fight" protocols.

The Scene at Constant Hall

The incident began shortly before 10:50 a.m. inside Constant Hall, the primary building for ODU’s Strome College of Business. According to witnesses and university alerts, gunfire erupted in the building, prompting an immediate surge of emergency personnel to the heart of the Norfolk campus.

The university’s first alert was blunt: "O.D.U. Urgent Alert: Active threat reported at Constant Hall. Follow Run-Hide-Fight protocols. Emergency personnel responding. Avoid area."

By 11:45 a.m., university spokesperson Jonah Grinkewitz confirmed that the suspect had been "neutralized" and was deceased. It remains unclear whether the suspect died from a self-inflicted wound or was engaged by responding officers.

Victims and Emergency Response

Two victims were struck during the shooting and were quickly transported to a local hospital. While the university has not yet released the identities of the victims or the extent of their injuries, officials noted that they are receiving medical treatment.

The response was massive, involving Old Dominion University Police, the Norfolk Police Department, and special agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).

"This is a tragedy that hits at the heart of our community," said one student who was in a nearby building when the alerts went out. "You practice for these things, but you never actually expect to be hiding under a desk texting your parents goodbye."

Campus Operations and Local Impact

Following the "all clear" notification sent around 12:10 p.m., the university announced that all classes and operations on the main campus would be suspended for the remainder of the day, Thursday, March 12.

The impact of the shooting extended beyond the university gates. As a precaution, Norfolk Public Schools placed three nearby elementary schools—Larchmont, James Monroe, and W.H. Taylor—on a "secure hold" during the height of the crisis. All students and staff at those locations were reported safe.

A Community in Recovery

As of Thursday afternoon, Constant Hall remains cordoned off as a crime scene. Investigators are working to determine a motive and the relationship, if any, between the gunman and the university.

ODU officials have urged students to utilize campus counseling services as the community begins to process the morning's events. "The safety and well-being of our Monarch family is our top priority," the university said in a closing statement.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates on the victims' conditions and further details from the investigation.