#295 Samuel Reineberg - First-Hand Account of the Old Dominion Terrorist Attack
Samuel Reineberg, an Army ROTC cadet at Old Dominion University, provides a detailed first-hand account of confronting and killing a terrorist who attacked his military science classroom on March 12, 2026. He and three other unarmed cadets eliminated the shooter who had fatally wounded their professor, Lieutenant Colonel Brandon Shaw.
Summary
Samuel Reineberg, a former Army watercraft operator turned ROTC cadet, recounts the terrorist attack at Old Dominion University where Mohammed Jilal entered his military science classroom and opened fire after confirming it was an ROTC class. The attack began when Jilal yelled 'Allahu Akbar' and shot Professor Lieutenant Colonel Brandon Shaw at point-blank range. Reineberg and three other unarmed cadets immediately engaged the shooter, with Shaw bear-hugging the attacker despite being wounded. The cadets overcame the gunman using knives, physical force, and by controlling his weapon's slide to prevent it from firing. Reineberg removed one of the shooter's eyes with his finger during the struggle. After neutralizing the threat in under four minutes, Reineberg provided medical aid to Shaw, applying tourniquets and attempting to stop massive bleeding from a femoral artery wound. Despite their efforts and Shaw remaining conscious and speaking during treatment, he later died at the hospital. The interview reveals the shooter was a former National Guard member who had served eight years for attempting to provide material support to ISIS but was released early from prison through a drug rehabilitation program loophole. Reineberg discusses the psychological aftermath, including nightmares about Shaw's final moments, the complicated emotions around receiving military honors while grieving his professor's death, and his decision to continue military service. The account highlights both the heroism of the cadets who prevented a larger massacre and systematic failures that allowed a known terrorist to be released early and carry out an attack.
Key Insights
- Reineberg and three other unarmed ROTC cadets eliminated a terrorist shooter in under four minutes using only knives and physical force
- Lieutenant Colonel Shaw bear-hugged the shooter while being shot, enabling the cadets to overcome the attacker
- The terrorist Mohammed Jilal was released from federal prison two and a half years early through a drug rehabilitation program despite having only terrorism convictions
- Reineberg controlled the shooter's weapon by holding the slide, preventing it from firing during the struggle
- Shaw died from a single gunshot wound to the femoral artery despite the cadets' immediate medical intervention with tourniquets
- The attack was specifically targeted against ROTC personnel, with Jilal confirming the classroom's purpose before opening fire
- Reineberg experienced survivor's guilt and recurring nightmares about Shaw's final moments, particularly his wide-eyed expression before losing consciousness
- ODU initially sent Reineberg an email suggesting possible charges for his actions, later apologized for by the university president
- The shooter had previously attempted to purchase weapons for ISIS and planned an attack similar to the 2009 Fort Hood shooting
- Reineberg spent seven hours at the police station covered in Shaw's blood before being allowed to clean up
- The cadets' immediate response of telling classmates to evacuate prevented additional casualties from the shooter's remaining ammunition
- Despite the trauma, Reineberg chose to continue his military career and commission as an officer, rejecting suggestions to seek disability discharge
Topics
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