On the morning of March 13, 2026, a gunman discharged a firearm inside Constant Hall at Old Dominion University, critically wounding two people before law enforcement fatally stopped him. The tragedy cast a long shadow over the Norfolk, Virginia campus and reignited a nationwide conversation about gun violence at American colleges and universities.
This article delivers a thorough, fact-based breakdown of the Old Dominion University shooting — covering the sequence of events, the university’s emergency protocols, previous incidents on campus, and the support resources currently available to the ODU community. Whether you are a student, a concerned family member, or a resident of the Hampton Roads area, the information provided here will give you a clear picture of what happened and what steps are being taken in response.
The March 13, 2026 Shooting at Old Dominion University
At approximately 10:49 a.m. on Thursday, March 13, 2026, a gunman opened fire inside Constant Hall, a major academic building on the Old Dominion University campus in Norfolk, Virginia. Constant Hall houses ODU’s Strome College of Business and was occupied by students, faculty, and staff when the attack began.
ODU’s emergency alert platform dispatched its first campus-wide notification at 10:48 a.m., warning the community of an active threat inside the building. By 11:30 a.m., university officials confirmed through a follow-up message that the shooter had been stopped. Two victims suffered critical injuries and were transported immediately to Sentara Norfolk General Hospital.
Shortly after noon, ODU issued a final all-clear communication confirming that the emergency at Constant Hall had ended and that no further threat remained on campus.
Federal agencies responded swiftly alongside local law enforcement. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives confirmed the presence of its agents at the scene, and the FBI also provided assistance. In the immediate hours following the incident, the shooter’s identity had not been disclosed to the public, and information about the condition of the two victims remained limited.
What Is Constant Hall at Old Dominion University?
Constant Hall is one of the busiest academic buildings on the ODU campus, serving as the home base for the Strome College of Business. On weekday mornings, the building regularly accommodates hundreds of undergraduate students, graduate students, faculty members, and administrative staff — making the timing of the attack especially alarming.
What ODU Students Witnessed
For the students who were inside or near Constant Hall during the morning of March 13, a normal school day transformed in an instant into a scene of terror and confusion. Many recalled hearing fire alarms and initially dismissing them as a standard drill, only to realize seconds later that something genuinely dangerous was taking place.
One ODU junior who had been attending class inside the building when the shooting erupted described the disorienting first moments — uncertain whether to run toward an exit or shelter in place. Another student recounted sprinting out of the building with fellow classmates, unaware of the full nature of the incident until he had already reached a nearby parking structure.
“It was terrifying — there is really no other way to put it,” one student said in an interview with a local news channel. “People were running in every direction, screaming, with no idea what was happening.” He added that when he finally reached his phone to call his parents, he found himself at a complete loss for words.
Testimonies like these are a stark illustration of the emotional damage that campus violence inflicts on students, including those fortunate enough to escape physical harm. Old Dominion University has since made walk-in mental health counseling available to every member of the campus community affected by the incident.
Recurring Safety Failures: A Look at Prior Violent Incidents at ODU
The March 2026 attack at Old Dominion University was not the first time students were forced to confront serious violence on or near their campus. In the two years leading up to the shooting, ODU had already been the site of multiple dangerous incidents — each one amplifying student frustration and raising pointed questions about institutional preparedness.
February 26, 2025: A Deadly Double Shooting in an ODU Parking Area
On the evening of February 26, 2025, multiple gunshots rang out near Parking Lot 3, directly adjacent to Broderick Dining Commons on campus. Two Norfolk residents — Delanio Vick, age 18, and Timothy Williams Jr., age 20 — were both shot and later pronounced dead at Sentara Norfolk General Hospital. Investigators confirmed that neither man was a student at or had any formal affiliation with Old Dominion University.
ODU Police issued a shelter-in-place order at 10:01 p.m. that evening, lifting it at 11:43 p.m. once officials were satisfied that the danger had subsided. Norfolk Police, who led the investigation, concluded that the shooting grew out of a conflict between individuals unconnected to the university. No public arrest had been announced as of early 2026.
The university’s official response to the killings drew considerable criticism. President Brian Hemphill’s public statement — titled “An Expression of Sympathy and a Call For Action” — was interpreted by many in the campus community, including writers at the student-run Mace & Crown newspaper, as prioritizing institutional image over heartfelt condolence to the victims’ families.
September 3, 2024: Four ODU Students Robbed at Gunpoint in a Residence Hall
In early September 2024, weeks into the start of a new academic year, four ODU students were robbed at gunpoint inside a second-floor common area of Scotland House, a campus residence hall. Those responsible were identified as non-students from off campus who appeared to have familiarity with the building. All suspects were eventually taken into custody, and law enforcement found no connection between this event and the February 2025 shooting.
ODU responded to the robbery by announcing enhanced security measures for its residential facilities. However, reporting by the Mace & Crown later revealed that a number of those measures had been quietly reduced within roughly two weeks of their initial rollout.
Understanding the Broader National Pattern
The string of violent incidents at ODU reflects a crisis that extends far beyond any single campus. Figures compiled by Everytown for Gun Safety placed the February 2025 ODU parking lot shooting as the seventh recorded college campus shooting in the United States that year. Gun violence on American university campuses continues to occur at rates that have no parallel among peer nations, with lasting consequences for students, faculty, and institutional well-being across the country.
Inside ODU’s Emergency Alert System: What You Need to Know
Old Dominion University uses a notification platform called ODU Alerts to deliver time-sensitive emergency information to everyone on campus. All enrolled students are automatically signed up to receive these alerts via text message, phone call, and email. Faculty and staff members who wish to be included may register through the university’s official online portal.
When the March 2026 shooting unfolded, the ODU Alerts system performed precisely as designed. The first emergency notification reached the campus community at 10:48 a.m., roughly one minute after the threat was initially reported, with additional updates following as the situation developed. This response time is consistent with how the university handled the February 2025 parking lot incident, during which ODU Police arrived on the scene within approximately 60 seconds of receiving calls.
Any ODU student, faculty member, or staff employee who has not yet enrolled in the ODU Alerts system should do so immediately through the university’s portal. When a campus emergency occurs, federal law enforcement agencies recommend following the Run-Hide-Fight approach:
Run: Exit the building or area as quickly as possible if it is safe to do so.
Hide: If leaving is not a safe option, find a secure, enclosed space, lock or block the door, turn off the lights, and silence your phone.
Fight: Only when all other options have been exhausted — use whatever objects or actions are available to interrupt or overpower the attacker.
This framework, widely known as Run-Hide-Fight, is backed by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and is considered the standard behavioral guide for active shooter scenarios on institutional campuses.
Student and Parent Concerns About Safety at ODU
The accumulation of violent events at Old Dominion University has led a growing segment of the student population to speak openly about what they describe as inadequate safety provisions on campus. Following both the 2025 and 2026 incidents, students took to social media and campus forums to voice fears and call for substantive change.
The frustration, in many cases, goes beyond the violence itself. Students frequently point to what they perceive as a disconnect between the security commitments the university publicly promotes and the conditions students actually encounter day to day. Recurring concerns center on unrestricted building access, insufficient visible law enforcement, and the quality of official communication during and after emergency events.
Students and parents who want to evaluate safety at Old Dominion University should take note of the following:
ODU Police Department: The university maintains its own fully sworn police force with authority over the entire campus. For major incidents, the department works in close collaboration with Norfolk Police.
University Counseling Services: ODU’s counseling center provides mental health support and expands its walk-in availability following any campus emergency.
Annual Security Report: Federal law under the Clery Act requires ODU to publish a comprehensive annual safety report containing detailed campus crime data. This document is available to the public through the university’s official website.
Outdoor and Parking Area Security: Several serious incidents have taken place in parking lots and outdoor areas adjacent to campus buildings, particularly near dining and housing facilities. Students are strongly encouraged to travel in pairs or groups when moving through these areas after dark.
Mental Health Resources Available to the ODU Community After the Shooting
The psychological impact of campus gun violence extends well beyond those who are physically injured. Students who are present during or near such events — or who simply learn about them while on campus — frequently experience symptoms of acute stress, including persistent anxiety, disrupted sleep, concentration difficulties, and a generalized sense of danger. These responses are a natural part of processing traumatic events and do not reflect personal failure.
Any member of the ODU community who is struggling emotionally in the wake of the March 2026 shooting is encouraged to reach out using the resources listed below:
ODU University Counseling Services: Located within the campus Health Center, this office provides individual therapy sessions, group counseling, and immediate crisis support. Walk-in hours are extended during and following campus emergencies.
Crisis Text Line: Type HOME and send it to 741741 to begin a text-based conversation with a trained counselor. This service is available every day, at all hours.
SAMHSA National Helpline: Dial 1-800-662-4357 to access free, confidential help for mental health and substance-related concerns. Available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: Call or text 988 to connect with a licensed mental health counselor at any time. Designed for individuals in emotional distress or experiencing thoughts of self-harm.
Seeking professional support after a traumatic experience is a responsible decision, not a sign of fragility. American universities have documented a consistent surge in students utilizing mental health services in the months following high-profile campus incidents, and ODU’s counseling team is both equipped and dedicated to providing that support.
Campus Gun Violence in America: Why This Problem Keeps Growing
The Old Dominion University shooting is one event within a far broader and deeply troubling national landscape. No other wealthy country experiences gun violence on college campuses at anywhere near the rate seen in the United States, and the compounding effects on students, faculty, and institutional trust are significant and lasting.
Campus security researchers and policy experts consistently point to a set of proven strategies that universities can adopt to lower their risk profiles. These include tightening access controls at building entrances, improving outdoor lighting and expanding surveillance infrastructure in areas with documented safety concerns, ensuring consistent and transparent communication with students at all stages of an emergency, and building out mental health programs robust enough to identify at-risk individuals before a crisis materializes.
Every student and family has the right to investigate a university’s track record on safety and to examine its publicly available emergency response documentation. Old Dominion University’s crime statistics and safety protocols, as required under the federal Clery Act, are accessible through the official ODU website.
FAQ:
Q:1. Were Students or Bystanders Killed During the March 2026 ODU Shooting?
Ans. No students or bystanders were killed. The gunman died after being shot by law enforcement, while two others were critically wounded and hospitalized.
Q:2. Where on campus did the March 2026 shooting take place?
Ans. The shooting occurred inside Constant Hall, which serves as the academic home of ODU’s Strome College of Business on the main Old Dominion University campus in Norfolk, Virginia.
Q:3. Has ODU Been the Site of Gun Violence Before March 2026?
Ans. Yes. In February 2025, two people were fatally shot in a campus parking lot, and in September 2024, four students were robbed at gunpoint inside a dormitory.
Q:4. How Does ODU Alert Its Campus Community During an Active Emergency?
Ans. ODU uses a system called ODU Alerts, sending instant notifications via text, call, and email. All students are auto-enrolled, while faculty and staff can opt in through the university portal.
Q:5. What Mental Health Support Can ODU Students Access After the Shooting?
Ans. Students can visit ODU University Counseling Services for therapy and crisis care. National 24/7 options include the Crisis Text Line (741741), the 988 Lifeline, and SAMHSA Helpline (1-800-662-4357), all free and confidential.
Rebuilding a Sense of Safety at Old Dominion University
The events of March 13, 2026 have left a mark that the Old Dominion University community will carry for a long time. Two individuals remain hospitalized with critical injuries, and thousands of students, faculty members, and family members are navigating a mixture of grief, fear, and uncertainty. No one who sets foot on a university campus should have to experience what ODU’s community faced that morning.
Old Dominion University does maintain emergency systems, a sworn campus police force, and mental health services. But the pattern of violent incidents stretching back through 2024 and 2025 makes it plain that these structures, in their current form, are not sufficient. Genuine and lasting improvement will require honest assessment, transparent communication between university leadership and students, and a willingness to make meaningful investments in both physical security and student well-being.
If you are a current ODU student, take a few minutes today to confirm your enrollment in ODU Alerts. Review the Run-Hide-Fight protocol and internalize the steps. Make use of the counseling services that are available to you — they exist precisely for moments like this. And if something or someone on campus seems off or cause for concern, bring it to the attention of ODU Police or security staff without delay.
Stay alert. Stay connected. And remember — support is always available.
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