Five U.S. soldiers were wounded in a shooting at Georgia’s Fort Stewart military base on Wednesday morning, August 6. The suspected gunman, identified as 28-year-old Army Sgt. Quornelius Radford, was apprehended after opening fire at his workplace in the 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team (Spartan Brigade) complex. All victims are in stable condition, with three requiring surgery and two transferred to Memorial Hospital in Savannah for advanced trauma care.
The incident began at 10:56 a.m. ET when law enforcement responded to reports of gunfire. The base was locked down by 11:04 a.m., and Radford was subdued by fellow soldiers who tackled him at the scene. He was arrested at 11:35 a.m., ending the active threat. Nearby schools in Liberty County implemented precautionary lockdowns but resumed normal operations by noon.
Radford, an automated logistics sergeant with no combat history, used a personal handgun, not military-issued equipment. His chain of command was unaware of a prior May 2024 arrest for driving under the influence (DUI), highlighting potential gaps in personnel monitoring. Brig. Gen. John Lubas confirmed the attack targeted Radford’s coworkers, though the motive remains unclear. Investigators are probing how the weapon was brought onto the secured base.
Government officials like President Donald Trump was briefed, while Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp expressed sorrow for victims and families. Lubas praised soldiers who intervened, stating they "prevented further harm". Fort Stewart, the largest Army base east of the Mississippi, houses 10,000+ personnel and is critical to coastal Georgia’s economy. The lockdown disrupted deliveries and schools, with witnesses describing chaos reminiscent of "a war".
This marks the second shooting at Fort Stewart since 2022, when Sgt. Nathan Hillman was killed. While mass shootings in the U.S. military are rare, incidents like the 2009 Fort Hood attack underscore persistent security challenges. The FBI is assisting the Army Criminal Investigation Division.