ROTC Student Responds to Horrific Terrorist Attack | Official Preview
An ROTC student recounts surviving a terrorist attack by Muhammad Jalo, a former National Guard member who was radicalized by ISIS and released early from prison. The student and others physically subdued the attacker, preventing further casualties.
Summary
This transcript covers an interview with an ROTC student who survived a terrorist attack on his campus. The attacker, 36-year-old Muhammad Jalo, entered an ROTC classroom and opened fire after shouting 'Allah Akbar,' killing a veteran army pilot who had survived combat missions in the Middle East. The student provides firsthand details of the attack, describing how he and other cadets physically fought the gunman, with one cadet stabbing him and the student himself taking out the attacker's eye before they subdued and killed him. The transcript reveals Jalo's background as a former Virginia Army National Guard member who was radicalized by al-Qaeda and ISIS online materials between 2015-2016. He had previously been arrested in 2016 for attempting to purchase weapons and donate money to ISIS, serving only 8.5 years of an 11-year sentence before being released. The student expresses frustration with politicians and government policies, particularly regarding funding that he believes indirectly supports groups that radicalize attackers like Jalo. The interview concludes with the host presenting the student with a firearm as recognition for his heroic actions.
Key Insights
- The ROTC student and other cadets physically subdued Muhammad Jalo during the attack, with one cadet stabbing him and the student taking out the attacker's eye before they killed him
- Muhammad Jalo was released early from prison after serving only 8.5 years of an 11-year sentence for providing material support to ISIS
- Jalo had quit the National Guard in 2015 after listening to online al-Qaeda lectures and later made contact with ISIS members during travels to Sierra Leone and Nigeria
- The student claims the US government is sending millions weekly to the Taliban which goes toward training people like the attacker
- Jalo had previously told the FBI he wanted to conduct an attack similar to the 2009 Fort Hood shooting that killed 13 people
Topics
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