BREAKING: 2 Separate “Active Shooter” Situations End with Attackers Dead; Investigations Underway

Summary

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Podcast Summary

Podcast: Amy Robach & T.J. Holmes Present
Episode: BREAKING: 2 Separate “Active Shooter” Situations End with Attackers Dead; Investigations Underway
Date: March 12, 2026

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Episode Overview

This special breaking news episode, hosted by Amy Robach and T.J. Holmes, covers two separate active shooter situations unfolding almost simultaneously on March 12, 2026: one at Temple Israel Synagogue in West Bloomfield, Michigan, and another at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia. Both hosts deliver real-time updates, sharing early facts, eyewitness details, official responses, and their own reactions as the stories unfold.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Synagogue Attack in West Bloomfield, Michigan [02:53–09:57, 14:20–15:47]

• Incident Overview:

  • An attacker drove a vehicle into Temple Israel Synagogue, a large Jewish place of worship with an attached early childhood education center.
  • The assailant was reportedly armed with a rifle but never fired a shot.
  • The vehicle caught fire inside the synagogue; there is uncertainty whether the attacker died from the fire or was shot by security.

• Security Response:

  • Armed synagogue security quickly engaged, and the assailant was neutralized.
  • Police and emergency responders now face the challenge of investigating the burning vehicle, which may contain explosives or incendiary devices.

• Ongoing Uncertainties & Concerns:

  • Cause of the fire and the death of the attacker remain under investigation.
  • The attacker's potential motives and whether he carried bomb materials are unclear.
  • Massive police presence persists amid fears of additional threats.

• Community Impact:

  • Panic and fear among parents and children during the evacuation scene.
  • “I get chills just thinking about it and seeing it—rushing into that building, getting their kids. I mean, the fear and the chaos that ensued.” — Amy Robach [07:23]

• Broader Context:

  • Several recent attacks against synagogues globally, linked to rising tensions following U.S./Israel actions against Iran.
  • “Five synagogues have been attacked in just the last five days.” — Amy Robach [10:02]

• Federal Response:

  • President and federal agencies briefed; FBI on scene assisting with investigation.
  • Synagogues and other vulnerable sites are receiving extra security due to heightened fears of copycat or inspired attacks.

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2. Shooting at Old Dominion University, Norfolk, Virginia [10:27–11:07, 14:20–18:12]

• Incident Overview:

  • Active shooter report at Old Dominion University’s Constant Hall; gunfire broke out around 11:00 am ET.
  • One person was killed, two others injured; the gunman also died, reportedly by suicide.

• Immediate Response:

  • Campus was locked down; a later “all clear” was issued to students and faculty.
  • Classes canceled for at least two days while the investigation unfolds.

• Key Unknowns:

  • Unclear whether attack was targeted or random.
  • Motive is unknown; police investigating connections between the attacker and victims.
  • Confusion around reported videos of handcuffed individuals—uncertain if related to the shooter.

• Federal Presence:

  • FBI assisting local authorities; investigation in early stages.

• Emotional & Social Impact:

  • Both hosts reflect on the fear and trauma felt by students and parents nationwide during campus shootings.
  • Broader discussion of societal anxiety as violence appears to escalate.
  • “It just feels like at this point everyone is just on edge given these developing stories.” — Amy Robach [17:40]

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Potential Motive and Terrorism Fears:

  • “There's this concern right now...we see the pictures of bombs and missiles flying other places, but the concern is that makes its way to us in some way and people get inspired and want to attack.” — T.J. Holmes [06:35]

• On Parental Fear:

  • “There were images of parents...rushing into that building, getting their kids. I mean, the fear and the chaos that ensued.” — Amy Robach [07:23]

• Statistics Highlighting Escalating Risk:

  • “Five synagogues have been attacked in just the last five days.” — Amy Robach [10:02]

• On Community and Surveillance:

  • “The president is aware of what's going on here...certain sites are getting an extra level of protection because of the concern of things like this.” — T.J. Holmes [08:27]

• On Uncertainty and ‘Edge’:

  • “It feels chaotic, it feels frightening. We hear about potential attacks in California and now you've got these...target attacks potentially or at least smaller attacks that are just as scary.” — Amy Robach [17:40]

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Key Timestamps

• [02:53] — Breaking news introduction, two simultaneous attacks
• [03:34–07:23] — Synagogue attack details, immediate aftermath, community impact
• [07:23–09:57] — Broader context: terrorism fears, official responses, global connection, evacuation scenes
• [10:02] — Recent rise in synagogue attacks, statistical context
• [10:27–11:07] — Transition to Old Dominion incident, emotional resonance
• [14:20–15:47] — Summary update on both incidents, further details on Old Dominion shooting
• [16:16–18:12] — Motives, confusion, ongoing investigation, psychological impact of continual threats

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Tone and Language

• Originality: Conversational, urgent, and empathetic. Both hosts discuss events in real time, acknowledging uncertainty and sharing emotional responses.
• Style: Direct, human-centered, and informal, frequently referencing “we” and relating news to personal experience and public sentiment.

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Conclusion

Amy Robach and T.J. Holmes provide immediate, unfiltered updates on two live, frightening situations: a foiled but traumatic synagogue attack in Michigan and a fatal campus shooting in Virginia. The episode conveys the uncertainty, fear, and complexity in such moments, while underlining the broader context of rising religious- and education-targeted violence amid escalating geopolitical tensions. Both stories highlight the rapid police response and the enduring anxiety that such incidents create for American communities.

Note: This summary omits advertisements, podcast intros/outros, and non-content sections as requested.

Transcript

[Amy Robach]

This is an iHeart podcast.

[T.J. Holmes]

Guaranteed Human success starts with your drive, and American Public University is here to fuel it.

[Amy Robach]

With affordable tuition and over 200 flexible online programs, APU helps you gain the skills and confidence to move forward.

[T.J. Holmes]

Whether you're changing careers, starting fresh, or pursuing a lifelong passion, APU's programs are designed for people who never stop.

[Amy Robach]

You bring the fire. APU will fuel the journey. Learn more at apu Apus. Edu.

[Ryan Seacrest]

It's Ryan Seacrest For Albertsons and Safeway, it is Stock up Savings time now through March 31st spring in for storewide deals and earn four times the points. Look for in store tax to earn on eligible items from Smart Water, Healthy Choice, Continental, arrowhead, Red Bull, St James, Tillamook and Special K. Then clip the offer in the app for automatic event long savings. Stack up those rewards to save even more. Enjoy savings on top of savings when you shop in store or online for easy drive up and go, pick up or delivery restrictions apply. See website for full terms and conditions.

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[Amy Robach]

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[Bowen Yang]

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[T.J. Holmes]

Hey there, folks. It is Thursday, March 12, and we have two breaking news stories we're keeping an eye on. One in Virginia, the other in Michigan, both having to do with attacks of some kind at both places, one at a university, the other at a synagogue. Welcome to this episode of Amy and TJ Robes. Let's start with the synagogue. And we wrote this school we're talking about is Old Dominion. We will get to that story as well. But these stories are happening in and developing in the last matter of minutes. But let's start with the synagogue robes where it doesn't look like anybody was actually killed there. But it sounds like this potentially could have been a major attack.

[Amy Robach]

It could have been horrific. This is a synagogue that had young children being schooled. This is Temple Israel Synagogue in West Bloomfield, Michigan. And this was quite the scene. But it looks like it's a situation where security was on alert, they were on top of things, and they ended. What could have been, as you pointed out, a horrific tragedy where at this point the only person in this attack who was killed was the person trying to attack the synagogue.

[T.J. Holmes]

And some questions surrounding that about how this person died and roped. You stopped me. We've been looking at the same reports and put piecing information together, but it appears this man had a rifle. Correct, but never got off a shot. What they're explaining here to us, this person rammed the synagogue with his vehicle and was able to essentially drive the vehicle through the synagogue through essentially a hallway, eventually stopped, was stopped by security, as you mentioned, who essentially opened fire on him. But robed, a fire of some kind breaks out inside the vehicle. And they think that might be the way the man died.

[Amy Robach]

Not sure how he died yet exactly. So some headlines, because these are now just initial reports and this is a developing story. I mean, if you look at the video and the pictures coming out of this area in Michigan, the amount of police on the scene is remarkable. But yes, they say the vehicle caught fire. Some of the headlines say that he was shot by security, fatally shot by security. And we know that he was shot at by security, but the vehicle certainly caught fire. So they don't know if the fire ended up taking his life or if he was actually shot to death. But either way, he was in the vehicle when it caught on fire. So we don't know if they were explosives in the vehicle. We don't know why the vehicle caught fire simply because shots were fired.

[T.J. Holmes]

So that right now is the question we all know. I think most of us generally know it doesn't happen with cars the way it happens in movies. You can't just thump it and a car explodes. It's hard to get a car to just simply catch fire. So what was going on in there? And that is a major question and a scary one. Robes to consider what he might have had in the vehicle, which lends itself to what he might have been thinking and what he might have been planning.

[Amy Robach]

That's correct. Because if you look at some of the images that are coming out of this area, near this synagogue near Detroit, by the way, if you aren't familiar where West Bloomfield is, there was this huge plume of smoke coming up from the synagogue. That's how big this car fire or this explosion was. And so it could be seen from miles away. So obviously, when you look at the amount of police that have descended on this area, there are clearly bigger concerns of what was inside that vehicle, what is inside that vehicle. This isn't just, oh, okay, the active shooter situation has been diminished. The the attacker is dead and police are on the scene. This looks like this is an ongoing serious situation.

[T.J. Holmes]

This is an incredible police response. We're, we're looking at it in some of the live pictures right now, but it is an enormous response. And we did hear a press conference a short time ago with some local officials, law enforcement officials who said, no, we haven't handed over seen. They essentially have to go through and make sure there are no incendiary device. He said that to make sure there aren't any there. So again and again, you have been. Now robes. I should. We've been looking again, this is fast moving, but you've been looking at some of the conversation again. We know it's going to go here, but the concern right now is a lot of it. We see the pictures of bombs and missiles flying other places, but the concern is that makes its way to us in some way and people get inspired and want to attack.

[Amy Robach]

Correct. Because we actually heard from Iranian clerics and certain Islam clerics inciting this war, saying our brothers and sisters around the world attack the enemy, AKA the United States, in any way you can. And so to have a synagogue, a Jewish place of worship targeted in Michigan, which is a hotbed of activity, but this is a huge synagogue, 12,000 members. And again, attached to the synagogue was an early childhood education center. And when this happened with the okay by police, there were images of parents as you might imagine, I get chills just thinking about it and seeing it rushing into that building, getting their kids. I mean, the fear and the chaos that ensued. But there are reports now that there were mortars, some sort of bomb like material or bomb like devices possibly inside this car. And that is why we are seeing this ongoing increasing police presence around the synagogue right now.

[T.J. Holmes]

It's a sprawling place. It is a huge campus, if you will, what we're looking at here. But that concern, robes is going to be there, that conversation will happen. We've gotten word that, yes, the president is aware of what's going on here, according to the press secretary, the president is aware of. But we have seen it in places all over the country already. Certain sites are getting an extra level of protection because of the concern of things like this. And as we look at these pictures, some of these, I don't think this picture is live anymore. But still you have smoke coming out of this place. They're trying to understand what has caused that. So robes, we're in a situation where they might still be trying to clear a building and can't necessarily get to it yet because it's not safe.

[Amy Robach]

That vehicle is still in the building. So. And that vehicle is what exploded. That vehicle is what caught fire. And that is why we're seeing that smoke coming out of that synagogue. So imagine trying to, you don't know completely what's in that vehicle. You don't know what still could possibly explode. You don't know if the car has been booby trapped in any way. So they have to proceed with caution, but they also have to proceed with urgency. This is a frightening situation and this is exactly what folks have been concerned about, especially folks who are Jewish who are concerned about. Look, this is a US Israel led invasion on Iran. So it would make sense that potentially it could be linked what we're seeing here, this attack with what's going on in Iran.

[T.J. Holmes]

Would you tell me the number? You said there was a count, a stat of how many synagogues have been attacked. Did you tell me?

[Amy Robach]

Yes, I just saw a headline that five synagogues have been attacked in just the last five days. So there have been synagogues targeted and attacked around the world since the invasion of Iran. I shouldn't say invasion, but the attack of Iran. We haven't, we don't have boots on the ground. But since the attack on Iran.

[T.J. Holmes]

Oh boy. Getting ahead of us, please.

[Amy Robach]

That I did not. That was a slip of the tongue.

[T.J. Holmes]

All right, so that is one ongoing. That is a right now that is a minute by many getting updates on that story. The other is happening in Norfolk, Virginia at the campus of Old Dominion University where we were getting reports. And these are always robes. They are scary as hell when you see them because a lot of us have been that kid on campus. A lot of us have kids on campus. But anytime you see that a school is in lockdown and there's possibly an active shooter situation, any type of shoot on a campus, that is certainly concerning, Stay here. We'll give you the latest about what is happening on the campus of Old Dominion University.

[Amy Robach]

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[T.J. Holmes]

Success starts with your drive, and American Public University is here to fuel it.

[Amy Robach]

With affordable tuition and over 200 flexible online programs, APU helps you gain the skills and confidence to move forward.

[T.J. Holmes]

Whether you're changing careers, starting fresh, or pursuing a lifelong passion, APU's programs are designed for people who never stop.

[Amy Robach]

You bring the fire. APU will fuel the journey. Learn more at APU apus.edu.

[Ryan Seacrest]

hey, it's Ryan Seacrest for Albertsons and Safeway, it is Stock up savings time now through March 31st. Spring in for storewide deals and earn four times the points. Look for in store tax to earn on eligible items from Smart Water, Healthy Choice, Continental, arrowhead, Red Bull, St James, Tillamook and Special K. Then clip the offer in the app for automatic event long savings. Stack up those rewards to save even more. Enjoy savings on top of savings. When you shop in stor or online for easy drive up and go pick up or delivery restrictions apply. See website for full terms and conditions.

[Orderly Meds Advertiser]

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[Bowen Yang]

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[Amy Robach]

Welcome back everyone as we continue to monitor two developing situations. We just told you about the situation that is ongoing and in absolutely still developing as we record this out of of just outside of Detroit, Michigan where a synagogue was rammed and the attacker inside that vehicle was armed with a rifle. That car has caught on fire and now we have a massive police presence as that would be attacker has been killed. But they still have a lot to go through determining if that car is still at any risk to the folks around the area inside that synagogue. It is a developing situation so far. Thankfully no one inside the synagogue was injured. The security there was able to take out or at least stop the would be attacker and so that investigation is ongoing. But just across the country in Virginia, just shortly before that incident happened, we now know a gunman opened fire at Old Dominion University in Constant Hall. Folks, I don't know exactly if it was a dorm or if it was a some sort of a meeting place, but we know that some students who were inside that hall said they were taking tests or they were studying when gunfire rang out around ground just before 11am Eastern time. And we know that one person was killed, we know that two others were injured and we've been told that the gunman is dead.

[T.J. Holmes]

That's all we have at this point. But that that campus was shut down on lockdown. They have given the students the all clear. But again that's one of those things ropes. We don't know what the relationship was between any of these folks Were this supposed to be a bigger event? Is this a target event? They haven't and I have not seen that. Again, this is developing also in the past matter of hours. So please tell me, I haven't seen the suggestion yet whether or not this was targeted or what this was meant to be. Possibly a bigger shooting.

[Amy Robach]

Right now officials seem to be completely unsure as to what motivated this shooting and they are actively investigating it. In fact, they have suspended, canceled all classes as you might imagine, at Old Dominion, not only for today, but for tomorrow as well as they continue to try and put the pieces together of what exactly happened. They had a press conference a short while ago, but they really are unclear as to exactly why this happened, how this happened, but they, and they don't know. They do not know if this was a targeted attack or not. But they do believe the latest information is that the gunman may have taken his own life. It doesn't appear as though security or police on the scene were the ones to, to take out this shooter. They do believe it was a self inflicted gunshot wound, but after he killed one person and injured two others. Now there, there is, there's someone actually was injured. It's, it's a little confusing but there's another being carried away by police and they show somebody, there's a video out there online of someone in handcuffs being taken away from the scene. They don't know if that has anything to do with the shooting or not. But a lot of folks are trying to figure out what could have happened, what did happened on this campus. But this is a developing situation and the FBI is at both scenes. Cash Patel is making comments on both scenes saying our agents are aware, our agents are aiding in the investigations. But these are early stages and just with the state of things in the world right now, it's just, it feels chaotic, it feels frightening. We hear about potential attacks in California and now you've got these, these target attacks potentially or at least smaller attacks that are just as scary. I mean kids going to school, young ones going to learn at a synagogue. I mean it just feels like at this point everyone is just on edge given these developing stories.

[T.J. Holmes]

Well folks, we just wanted to hop on and give you those updates. Had two developing stories and they are still developing now as always, top right corner of your Apple podcast app where you see our show page. There's a little button there that says follow click that. You can make sure, you can subscribe, make sure you get these updates. We weren't expecting to do this one, but the news was happening, so we wanted to hop on and give you an update. We always appreciate you spending some time with us. I am T.J. holmes. On behalf of my dear Amy Robot, we will talk to you soon on trip. Success starts with your drive, and American Public University is here to fuel it.

[Amy Robach]

With affordable tuition and over 200 flexible online programs, APU helps you gain the skills and confidence to move forward.

[T.J. Holmes]

Whether you're changing careers, starting fresh, or pursuing a lifelong passion, APU's programs are designed for people who never stop you bring the fire.

[Amy Robach]

APU will fuel the journey. Learn more at apu Apus Edu this

[T.J. Holmes]

is Julian Edelman from Games With Names. I want to take a second to talk about something that's personal to me. I've had the privilege of working closely with Robert Kraft for a long time, and one thing I've always respected is how seriously he takes up standing up to hate. As a Jewish athlete, my identity is something I am proud of, but I also know what it feels like to be singled out for it. That's why this new commercial for the Blue Square Alliance Against Hate that aired during the Big Game really hit home. It's about showing up for someone when they're targeted, even if you don't have the perfect words. And sometimes standing next to someone is enough. And you can show support by sharing

[Ryan Seacrest]

the Blue Square hey, it's Ryan Seacrest. For Albertsons and Safeway, it is Stock up Savings time now through March 31st. Spring in for storewide deals and earn four times the points. Look for in store tags to earn on eligible items from Smart Water, Healthy Choice, Continental, arrowhead, Red Bull, St James, Tillamook and Special K. Then clip offer in the app for automatic event long savings. Stack up those rewards to save even more. Enjoy savings on top of savings when you shop in store or online for easy drive up and go, pickup or delivery restrictions apply. See website for full terms and conditions.

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[Bowen Yang]

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[Amy Robach]

This is an iHeart podcast. Guaranteed Human.