The Shawn Ryan Show — Episode #295

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

Guest: Samuel Reineberg
Host: Shawn Ryan
Date: April 13, 2026

Episode Overview

In this powerful and emotional episode, Shawn Ryan sits down with Samuel Reineberg, a senior Army ROTC cadet who was at the center of the March 12, 2026, terrorist attack at Old Dominion University. Recently honored for his actions with a Soldier’s Medal, Sam shares a raw, first-person account of that day—detailing the events that unfolded in the classroom, his split-second decisions, the aftermath for him and his classmates, and the enduring grief of losing their instructor, Lt. Col. Brandon Shaw. The conversation delves into trauma, heroism, survivor’s guilt, and the preventable failures that led to the tragedy, all while capturing the camaraderie and fortitude of those who stood together in the face of evil.

Key Topics and Discussion Points

Introduction and Background

• Introducing Samuel Reineberg (02:09)
  • Former enlisted U.S. Army watercraft operator, served on LSV5, selected for the Green to Gold Scholarship, ROTC senior at ODU.
  • About to commission as a second lieutenant; awarded a Meritorious Service Medal (being upgraded to Soldier’s Medal) for heroism during the attack.

“Cadet Samuel D. Reineberg, for exceptionally heroic actions while serving as a cadet at the Old Dominion University, while responding to an active shooter incident in life-threatening emergency on 12th March, 2026... displayed incredible courage under extreme circumstances.” — Interviewer (03:12)

• Emotional weight of the honor (04:26)

  • Ceremony at Col. Shaw’s funeral; Sam’s mixed feelings—honor, responsibility, and survivor’s guilt.

  “...the family came up to me... telling me thank you. And I am only able to respond with, I'm so sorry. Because I can't even imagine—I'm having a hard time. I can't imagine them.” — Sam (05:13)

Unit Camaraderie & Recovery

• Close bonds with fellow cadets (07:51-08:45)

  • Survival and shared trauma have forged strong connections; updates on the wounded, ongoing recovery.

• Maintaining resilience with activity and support (01:40, 09:46)

  • Sam coping by staying active and relying on community.

Early Life & Military Path

• Military family and career path (13:34-15:25)
  • Enlisted at 18, followed family footsteps; experiences as a watercraft operator.
• Upcoming Commission and Future Assignment (16:41-18:38)
  • Branching into logistics, assigned to Schofield Barracks, Hawaii with the 25th Infantry Division—received orders the day after the attack.

March 12, 2026: The Attack

• Setting the Scene (21:41-23:50)

  • Routine ROTC day—scavenger hunt PT, class presentations.
  • Civilian clothes for force protection due to global incidents (Iran conflict).

• Classroom Moments (23:51-28:18)

  • Normal class, critique by Col. Shaw; attacker unexpectedly enters.
  • Odd detail: locked door was inexplicably accessible, raising questions later.

The Attack Unfolds

• Shooter’s Entrance and Immediate Threat (28:49-31:20)

  • Attacker (Muhammad Jalal) enters, asks if it’s ROTC, then opens fire point-blank after shouting “Allahu Akbar.”
  • Chaos and instant reaction by cadets.

• Cadet Response and Combat (33:14-35:43)

  • Col. Shaw charges and bear-hugs the shooter despite being shot.
  • Four cadets, including Sam, engage physically: tackling, wrestling for the weapon, pinning the shooter and disabling his firearm by grabbing the slide.
  • Use of extreme force—cadets stab and disable attacker.

“He, while being shot at, took steps forward and like bear, like bear hugged the shooter while being shot at.” — Sam (31:38)

“There was like four of us total that handled this guy. We're immediately trying to like, go for the gun... As soon as we had our hands on the top of the slide of this Glock... I turned around: so everyone get the hell out of here. Somebody call 911.” — Sam (33:14, condensed)

• Administering Aid to Col. Shaw (38:15-44:32)

  • Focus shifts to first aid: major femoral bleed, improvised and replaced failed tourniquet, moved to hallway and outside for ambulance extraction.
  • Sam covered in blood, desperately trying to save his instructor.

• Post-event Chaos & Emotional Aftermath (45:57-54:58)

  • Confusion, police interviews, notification of Col. Shaw’s passing hours later.
  • Blood exposure protocols, hospital, sleepless nights, anxiety.
  • Profound moment: “Everything is after me, but I’m okay. I was just… there.” — Sam (50:52)

Survivors' Experiences and Processing Trauma

• Immediate aftermath and ongoing mental health (59:33-63:33)
  • Heightened anxiety, stress, and nightmares, especially after seeing Col. Shaw’s “big eyes” in those moments.
  • Isolation, lack of appetite, haunted by the memory of trying to stop the bleeding.
• Survivor's Guilt and Grieving (96:20-98:22)
  • Main struggle is not with fighting the attacker, but with feelings of loss and responsibility for Col. Shaw’s death.

“It's not so much... guilt in the beginning, but now it's more, just the sadness... seeing somebody you were taking care of alive and talking, then... laying in uniform in a casket.” — Sam (97:14-98:22)

Tactics, Timelines & Heroism

• Physical Response Details (68:53–70:15)

  • Cadets quickly pin the shooter, prevent more gunfire by holding the slide, attacker subdued and killed in under four minutes.

• Official Timeline (71:42–72:58)

  • 10:43am — Jalal enters, opens fire.
  • 10:43–10:47 — Cadets intervene, attack ends.
  • 10:47 — Police arrive, shooter already dead.
  • 10:48 — Campus alert issued.
  • 12:10 — All-clear given.

“That is unfucking real that you guys, in less than four minutes were able to kill that dude... You guys, the team.” — Interviewer (72:58)

• Breakdown of participants and casualties (64:21-67:43)
  • 28 people present; four cadets made hands-on contact, others supported with aid.
  • Col. Shaw killed; two cadets wounded but survived; attacker fatally subdued.

Institutional Responses & Systemic Failures

• Perplexing university response (76:29-78:02)

  • Sam receives bizarre email: "ODU doesn't have any intention of pressing charges against you..." for action taken in self-defense against the terrorist.
  • University president personally calls with support, informs Sam of tragedies at other universities where no one intervened, celebrates their courage.

• Recommendations and Memorials (80:56-83:33)

  • Sam urges enhanced security for ROTC cadets post-attack.
  • Plans to honor Col. Shaw: camo jerseys at football game, Apache flyover, naming stadium area “Shaw’s Corner”.

The Terrorist: Background and Radicalization

• Radicalization & FBI failings (84:44-89:28)
  • Host details shooter’s timeline: US Army service, exposure to jihadi propaganda, direct ISIS encouragement, FBI sting and conviction for attempting to aid ISIS.
  • Shooter released two-and-a-half years early from federal prison due to a now-closed loophole via a drug abuse program (despite no drug offenses).
  • Host and Sam express outrage at the government's systemic failure and ongoing support for groups like the Taliban.

“Why the would you release a terrorist, a terrorist two and a half years early on a residential drug abuse program? Whoever the did that needs to go to prison.” — Host (89:16)

Faith, Reflection, and Moving Forward

• Faith and Healing (106:01–108:02)
  • Sam is Catholic; receives a "Warrior Rosary" as a sign of protection.
  • Ends with heartfelt prayers for Col. Shaw and his family—Sam leads the prayer, with Shawn following.

“God, thank you for bringing us here today, keeping us safe... I pray that you see Colonel Shaw's family and protect them, and bring them as many blessings as you can, and that you bring his son into your arms and keep him safe. Amen.” — Sam (108:18)

• Sam’s Motivation and Commitment (103:29)

  • Rejects the notion of separation/disability; plans to continue serving.

• Message to Comrades and Col. Shaw’s Son (103:52–105:46)

  • “I'm proud of them. I'm proud and thankful for every single one of them... I miss you, man. I do... I hope you know I tried my best. We tried our best. The team.”
  • “Your dad, he loved you so much. We all knew that as a class... Everything he did was for his son. And same for his wife.”

Notable Quotes & Defining Moments

• “There was no thinking involved. I don’t recall any, like, time during the course of those few minutes where I was, like, deliberating over what I should do. It was just doing.” — Sam (73:30)

• “You charged a terrorist that was killing people...with no weapon, all of us, or most of us, with no weapon.” — Interviewer, on the team’s response (75:04)

• “It's the, it's, it's Colonel Shaw and, and taking care of him... That part of it is... the hard part for me is that part.” — Sam, on survivor’s guilt (96:20)

• “Do you want to tell his 10 year old son what kind of man he was?”
  "Your dad, he loved you so much. We all knew that as a class and we never even met him. I met his son and everything...everything he did was for his son. And same for his wife." — (105:03–105:46)

Timestamps of Important Segments

| Timestamp | Segment/Topic | |----------------|---------------------------------------------| | 02:09–03:12 | Sam’s introduction and medal citation | | 04:26–05:38 | Survivor's guilt and funeral experience | | 13:34–15:25 | Early military career and Army boats | | 16:41–18:38 | Finding out posting to Hawaii post-attack | | 21:41–23:50 | The day of the attack: Setting the scene | | 28:49–31:38 | The attacker enters, starts shooting | | 33:14–35:43 | Cadets tackle shooter, struggle for weapon | | 38:15–44:32 | Trying to save Col. Shaw, blood loss | | 45:57–54:58 | Aftermath: Blood, confusion, notification | | 59:33–63:33 | Trauma, nightmares, and mental health | | 68:53–70:15 | Weapon disables, team effort | | 71:42–72:58 | Official attack timeline | | 76:29–78:02 | Strange university legal email | | 80:56–83:33 | Memorials and security for ROTC at ODU | | 84:44–87:50 | Shooter’s radicalization timeline | | 89:16–89:31 | Host's outrage at early prison release | | 97:14–98:22 | Viewing Col. Shaw at the funeral | | 103:52–104:59 | Sam's message for comrades and Shaw | | 105:03–105:46 | Sam’s words to Col. Shaw’s son | | 106:01–108:18 | Faith, rosary gift, ending prayer |

Themes and Tone

• Candid and Unfiltered: Both Shawn and Sam speak directly and emotionally, unafraid to voice anger at systemic failures.
• Heroism and Teamwork: Great emphasis on the courage, instinct, and unity of the cadets, especially in moments of crisis.
• Faith, Grief, and Healing: The process of moving forward after trauma, survivor’s guilt, and leaning on faith.
• Accountability and Institutional Critique: Harsh light shone on the government’s policy failures that contributed to the attack.

Final Reflection

This episode is more than a recounting of a tragedy; it’s a portrait of courage under fire, the burden of survival, and the complex reality of responding to evil when the systems meant to protect us fail. Sam Reineberg’s candor, humility, and continued commitment to service make this a defining conversation—one that both honors the fallen and challenges listeners to reflect on duty, sacrifice, and the meaning of heroism in America today.