#295 Samuel Reineberg - First-Hand Account of the Old Dominion Terrorist Attack

Samuel Reineberg, a senior Army ROTC cadet at Old Dominion University, recounts his harrowing experience during the March 12, 2026, terrorist attack on campus, where he and four fellow cadets physically subdued and neutralized a gunman, Mohamed Jalou, within four minutes. The attack, which resulted in the death of Lieutenant Colonel Brandon Shaw and injuries to two cadets, unfolded in a military science classroom after the shooter, a former ISIS sympathizer released early from prison, entered and opened fire. Reineberg describes the chaos, his instinctive actions to stop the bleeding and secure the scene, and the emotional toll of surviving the event while carrying the weight of responsibility for Shaw’s death. Despite being awarded the Soldier’s Medal for his heroism, Reineberg grapples with survivor’s guilt, trauma, and the psychological aftermath, including sleeplessness and intrusive memories. He reflects on the preventable nature of the attack due to systemic failures—particularly the early release of the terrorist via a loophole in the Residential Drug Abuse Program—and expresses outrage over U.S. government funding of terrorist groups like the Taliban. Throughout the interview, Reineberg emphasizes his commitment to service, pride in his comrades, and a deep personal faith, concluding with a heartfelt prayer for Shaw’s family and a powerful affirmation of American resilience.