Old Dominion University shooting leaves 2 people critically injured, gunman dead
Key Takeaways
- University says a gunman opened fire in Constant Hall around 10:49 a.m.; two people are in critical condition and the shooter is dead.
- Campus alerts escalated from “active threat” to “active shooter” before officials announced the shooter was “neutralized”; classes were canceled for the day.
- Norfolk Police and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) responded; Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger said the state is assisting.
- International students on F-1/J-1 visas should follow school safety directives; short-term emergency closures typically do not jeopardize status under federal student-visa guidance when schools document the disruption.
- Designated School Officials (DSOs) remain the primary point of contact for visa questions; federal immigration processing (e.g., OPT with USCIS) is unaffected by local incidents.
What we know
Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia, reported that a shooter opened fire just before 10:49 a.m. inside Constant Hall. Two people were critically injured and taken to Sentara Norfolk General Hospital, according to a hospital spokesperson. The school issued an “active threat” alert at 10:48 a.m., later describing an “active shooter situation” and announcing the shooter was “neutralized” around 11:30 a.m. Authorities said there is no ongoing threat, but people were urged to avoid the area, and classes on the main campus were canceled for the remainder of the day. Norfolk Police and the Washington Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) responded, while Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger said she was monitoring the situation and mobilizing state support. The university has not released the identities of the victims or the gunman.
Why this matters for international students and scholars
Events like this directly affect campus communities, including international students and exchange visitors on F-1 and J-1 visas. Under the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP), brief emergency closures or class cancellations generally do not, by themselves, jeopardize a student’s SEVIS record or visa status when schools follow required procedures and document the operational disruption. Students should continue to follow university safety instructions, monitor official emails and text alerts, and keep records of any canceled classes or campus access restrictions. Optional Practical Training (OPT) and other benefits adjudicated by USCIS (U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services) continue on normal timelines; a campus emergency does not change filing requirements or processing.
What to do now
International students and scholars should contact their Designated School Official (DSO) or Responsible Officer (RO) with any status questions, especially if the incident interrupts class attendance, research access, or on-campus work. If you anticipate travel changes or missed work hours, ask your DSO how the school will document the interruption in SEVIS and whether any academic accommodations apply. Continue to comply with visa rules (for example, full-time enrollment requirements for F-1 students), and watch for further instructions from Old Dominion regarding campus reopening, building access, and mental health resources. For immediate safety information, rely on official ODU alerts and local law enforcement updates.
Source: Original Article