Federal prosecutors have charged a Virginia man accused of illegally selling the firearm used in the Old Dominion University shooting, a case that investigators say reveals troubling gaps in how a convicted felon obtained a weapon later used in a campus attack.
The Old Dominion University shooting has drawn nationwide attention after court documents revealed how authorities traced the gun used in the attack and identified the person who allegedly sold it.
Investigators say the case highlights broader concerns about illegal firearm transfers and the challenges law enforcement faces when weapons with altered serial numbers are used in violent crimes.
Attack Inside ROTC Classroom
The events that led to the Old Dominion University shooting began inside a classroom where a meeting involving ROTC members and active-duty service personnel was taking place.
According to federal court records, the attacker entered the classroom and asked individuals present whether the gathering was connected to ROTC activities. Witnesses told investigators the suspect asked the same question more than once before the situation suddenly escalated.
Moments later, the attacker shouted a phrase in Arabic before opening fire inside the room.
Several individuals present in the classroom quickly intervened. Authorities say the rapid response from ROTC members prevented what could have been a far more deadly incident.
Those present managed to subdue the attacker during the confrontation before emergency responders arrived at the scene.
The Old Dominion University shooting ended within minutes, but investigators say the incident could have resulted in significant casualties if not for the actions taken by individuals in the room.
Officials later confirmed that the attacker died during the confrontation that followed the shooting.
Federal Charges Filed in Old Dominion University Shooting
Federal prosecutors later announced criminal charges against a Virginia man accused of selling the firearm used in the Old Dominion University shooting.
The suspect, identified in court filings as Kenya Mcchell Chapman, was arrested after investigators determined that he allegedly transferred the handgun to the shooter shortly before the attack.
Authorities say the charges stem from Chapman’s alleged role in illegally selling the weapon despite knowing that the buyer had previously been incarcerated.
According to prosecutors, the investigation into the Old Dominion University shooting uncovered evidence that Chapman had prior contact with federal law enforcement related to firearm purchases.
Court records indicate that he had previously been warned by federal authorities regarding suspected straw purchases, a practice where someone buys firearms on behalf of another individual.
Federal investigators say those earlier warnings became a key part of the case once the weapon used in the campus attack was traced.
Investigators Trace the Firearm
Tracing the weapon used in the Old Dominion University shooting proved challenging for investigators.
When law enforcement officials examined the firearm recovered at the scene, they discovered that the serial number had been partially removed.
Serial numbers allow federal investigators to trace firearms through manufacturer and dealer records to determine how they were originally sold.
With the number damaged, authorities initially faced significant obstacles in identifying the origin of the weapon used in the Old Dominion University shooting.
Despite those challenges, investigators were able to collect other pieces of evidence at the scene that eventually led them toward the person who allegedly sold the firearm.
One of the most important discoveries came from a device found next to the attacker.
Authorities recovered the suspect’s cellphone near his body.
That device would later play a key role in helping investigators reconstruct the events leading up to the Old Dominion University shooting.
Phone Evidence Leads to Suspect
Digital evidence recovered from the phone helped investigators establish a pattern of communication between the shooter and another individual.
Investigators reviewing the phone records found repeated calls and text messages exchanged between the attacker and a specific phone number during the days leading up to the Old Dominion University shooting.
That phone number was later traced to Chapman.
Federal agents say the communication between the two men intensified during the week before the attack.
This information became a central piece of evidence that eventually allowed authorities to connect the firearm used in the Old Dominion University shooting to the alleged seller.
Investigators later executed a search warrant at Chapman’s home as part of the federal probe.
Conflicting Statements From the Gun Seller
When questioned by federal agents, Chapman initially gave investigators a version of events that later changed during the interview process.
According to court filings, Chapman first told investigators that he had discovered the gun abandoned in a wooded area.
However, as questioning continued, he reportedly admitted that the firearm had actually been stolen from a parked vehicle approximately one year before the Old Dominion University shooting.
Authorities say Chapman then acknowledged that he sold the weapon to the attacker for about $100.
Chapman reportedly told investigators that the buyer claimed he needed the firearm for personal protection while working as a delivery driver.
Prosecutors say Chapman also admitted that he knew the buyer had previously spent time in prison.
However, he claimed he did not realize the individual was legally prohibited from possessing a firearm.
The statements became key elements in the case tied to the Old Dominion University shooting.
Background of the Shooter
Investigators later revealed additional details about the shooter’s criminal history.
Court records show the attacker had previously been convicted in a federal terrorism-related case involving an attempt to provide support to the Islamic State group.
He served time in prison but was released early.
According to court documents, the individual involved in the Old Dominion University shooting was still serving a probation period at the time of the attack.
Probation supervision included periodic visits from an assigned officer.
However, records show that the visits occurred approximately every six months.
The most recent documented visit took place in November 2025, months before the Old Dominion University shooting occurred.
Authorities are reviewing the circumstances surrounding the suspect’s supervision.
How Authorities Reconstructed the Timeline
Investigators also used cellphone data to track the suspect’s movements before the Old Dominion University shooting.
Location data obtained from the phone revealed that the individual traveled between several locations in Virginia in the days leading up to the incident.
The locations included:
- The suspect’s residence
- Old Dominion University
- Chapman’s home
- A local Islamic center
By analyzing digital location records, investigators were able to reconstruct the timeline of events that preceded the Old Dominion University shooting.
Officials say the analysis helped establish when the firearm was obtained and when the suspect visited the university campus.
Concerns About Illegal Firearm Transfers
The case tied to the Old Dominion University shooting has raised concerns among law enforcement officials about illegal firearm transfers.
When firearms are sold privately or obtained through unlawful means, investigators say it becomes significantly harder to track how they move between individuals.
Weapons with altered serial numbers create additional complications.
Federal officials say those challenges make it more difficult to prevent weapons from reaching individuals who are legally prohibited from owning firearms.
The investigation into the Old Dominion University shooting illustrates how digital evidence and traditional investigative techniques must often be combined to identify suspects.
Campus Safety Questions After the Old Dominion University Shooting
The incident has also prompted discussions about security and safety at university campuses.
While the Old Dominion University shooting ended quickly due to the actions of individuals inside the classroom, the attack raised concerns about how someone carrying a firearm was able to enter a campus building.
Universities across the United States have increasingly reviewed emergency response procedures following incidents involving weapons on campus.
Officials say preparedness training and rapid response played a key role in limiting casualties during the Old Dominion University shooting.
Authorities say the actions taken by individuals present in the classroom likely prevented a larger tragedy.
Federal Investigation Continues
The federal investigation into the Old Dominion University shooting remains ongoing.
Prosecutors say the current charges focus specifically on the alleged illegal sale of the firearm used in the attack.
Investigators continue to review digital records, witness statements, and other evidence collected during the investigation.
Authorities have not ruled out the possibility of additional charges as the case develops.
Officials say the investigation into the Old Dominion University shooting will continue as law enforcement works to understand every step that led to the attack.