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United States of America v. Kenya Mcchell Chapman
Date: 07-17-2026
Case Number: 2:26-cr-00034
Judge: Arenda L. Wright Allen
Court: United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia (Norfolk County)
Plaintiff's Attorney: Emily Rebecca Gantt and Luke Bresnahan
Defendant's Attorney: Anthony Gantous
Description:
Norfolk, Virginia, criminal defense lawyer represented the Defendant charged with dealing in firearms without a license in connection with the March 12 shooting at Old Dominion University (ODU), and with three counts of making false statements during purchases of firearms.
Reported by Kent Morlan
On March 12, Mohamed Bailor Jalloh, 36, committed a terrorist shooting at ODU in Norfolk during an Army Reserve Officers’ Training Corp (ROTC) class, killing one victim and wounding two more.
According to court documents, a review of Jalloh’s cellphone revealed that one of the phone numbers most frequently contacted in the week prior to the shooting was Chapman’s, with the most recent call occurring minutes before the shooting. Law enforcement searched Chapman’s residence on March 13 and located ammunition consistent with ammunition used in the firearm recovered from the ODU shooting. The serial number of the firearm was partially altered or obliterated. Chapman stole the firearm from a vehicle in Newport News a year before the ODU shooting and sold it to Jalloh the night before the shooting.
Jalloh was convicted in the Eastern District of Virginia in 2016 of attempting to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization. As a previously convicted felon, Jalloh could not legally purchase or possess firearms or ammunition.
In addition, according to court documents, in 2021, Chapman purchased three firearms that were recovered from crime scenes shortly afterward. Two were recovered from the scene of a homicide and another was recovered from a public intoxication arrest.
Chapman is scheduled to be sentenced on Dec. 18 and faces up to 35 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Washington Field Division and the FBI’s Norfolk Field Office investigated this case.
T.18:922(a)(6) & 924(a)(2) False Statement During Purchase of a Firearm (April 22, 2021, in the City of Hampton); T.18:922(a)(6) & 924(a)(2) False Statement During Purchase of a Firearm (June 6, 2021, in the City of Hampton); T.18:922(a)(6) & 924(a)(2) False Statement During Purchase of a Firearm (August 16, 2021, in the City of Yorktown); T.18:922(a)(1)(A) Engaging in the Business of Dealing in Firearms Without a License (March 2026 in the County of Isle of Wight)
Reported by Kent Morlan
On March 12, Mohamed Bailor Jalloh, 36, committed a terrorist shooting at ODU in Norfolk during an Army Reserve Officers’ Training Corp (ROTC) class, killing one victim and wounding two more.
According to court documents, a review of Jalloh’s cellphone revealed that one of the phone numbers most frequently contacted in the week prior to the shooting was Chapman’s, with the most recent call occurring minutes before the shooting. Law enforcement searched Chapman’s residence on March 13 and located ammunition consistent with ammunition used in the firearm recovered from the ODU shooting. The serial number of the firearm was partially altered or obliterated. Chapman stole the firearm from a vehicle in Newport News a year before the ODU shooting and sold it to Jalloh the night before the shooting.
Jalloh was convicted in the Eastern District of Virginia in 2016 of attempting to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization. As a previously convicted felon, Jalloh could not legally purchase or possess firearms or ammunition.
In addition, according to court documents, in 2021, Chapman purchased three firearms that were recovered from crime scenes shortly afterward. Two were recovered from the scene of a homicide and another was recovered from a public intoxication arrest.
Chapman is scheduled to be sentenced on Dec. 18 and faces up to 35 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Washington Field Division and the FBI’s Norfolk Field Office investigated this case.
T.18:922(a)(6) & 924(a)(2) False Statement During Purchase of a Firearm (April 22, 2021, in the City of Hampton); T.18:922(a)(6) & 924(a)(2) False Statement During Purchase of a Firearm (June 6, 2021, in the City of Hampton); T.18:922(a)(6) & 924(a)(2) False Statement During Purchase of a Firearm (August 16, 2021, in the City of Yorktown); T.18:922(a)(1)(A) Engaging in the Business of Dealing in Firearms Without a License (March 2026 in the County of Isle of Wight)
Outcome:
The Defendant elected to plead guilty.
Plaintiff's Experts:
Defendant's Experts:
Comments:
About This Case
What was the outcome of United States of America v. Kenya Mcchell Chapman?
The outcome was: The Defendant elected to plead guilty.
Which court heard United States of America v. Kenya Mcchell Chapman?
This case was heard in United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia (Norfolk County), VA. The presiding judge was Arenda L. Wright Allen.
Who were the attorneys in United States of America v. Kenya Mcchell Chapman?
Plaintiff's attorney: Emily Rebecca Gantt and Luke Bresnahan. Defendant's attorney: Anthony Gantous.
When was United States of America v. Kenya Mcchell Chapman decided?
This case was decided on July 17, 2026.