The FBI is investigating a shooting at Old Dominion University (ODU) in Virginia as an act of terrorism after the suspected gunman was identified as former Army National Guard soldier, 36-year-old, Mohamed Balor Jalloh, convicted of supporting ISIS.

Jalloh is a naturalized U.S. citizen from Sierra Leone, according to a Fox source.

In 2017, Jalloh, was sentenced to 11 years in prison plus five years supervised release for attempting to provide material support to ISIS, according to the Department of Justice.

The former Virginia National Guardsmen was originally arrested on July 3, 2016, after officials say he tried to help procure weapons for what he believed would be an ISIS inspired attack on U.S. soil. Jalloh was also believed to have transferred funds backing ISIS, according to the criminal complaint.

In a statement on social media, FBI Director Kash Patel said that the agency is "now investigating the shooting as an act of terrorism."

"Earlier today, an armed individual opened fire at Old Dominion University, leaving one person dead and two others wounded. The shooter is now deceased thanks to a group of brave students who stepped in and subdued him – actions that undoubtedly saved lives along with the quick response of law enforcement," he said.

Patel said the FBI is investigating the shooting as an act of terrorism as the Joint Terrorism Task works with local law enforcement to unravel the events leading to violent act.

“Please pray for the victims, their families, and the ODU Community.” Patel said.

Thursday afternoon, Old Dominion University Police Chief Garrett Shelton said officers responded after receiving reports that people were being shot in one of the classrooms in the university’s business school building, Constant Hall.

After the university initially said there were two victims, Shelton said authorities learned that there was a third victim who brought themselves to a hospital. It wasn’t immediately clear how the shooter died.

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