A U.S. Army sergeant opened fire at the Fort Stewart Georgia military base on Aug. 6, injuring five of his colleagues, before he was subdued by fellow soldiers and taken into custody, military officials said.
Wednesday morning brought terror to Fort Stewart, Georgia—a place typically viewed as a safe haven for our military community. Shortly before 11 a.m., Sergeant Quornelius Radford allegedly opened fire on five of his fellow soldiers in the logistics area of the 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team. The base responded swiftly, issuing a lockdown that secured airfields, shut down schools, and mobilized emergency responders.
At a press briefing later that day, Brigadier General John Lubas of the 3rd Infantry Division confirmed the suspect’s identity as Sgt. Radford, who works in automated logistics. The victims were his coworkers, and Radford used his own handgun—not a military-issued weapon. As far as records show, he had never been deployed to a combat zone.
General Lubas praised the courage of those who witnessed the shooting, describing how they “immediately and without hesitation” tackled Radford, enabling law enforcement to quickly detain him. Army investigators have since interviewed Radford, and formal charges are expected to be formalized soon.
All five soldiers injured in the incident are expected to recover. Three remain in surgery at Winn Army Community Hospital, and two were transferred to a trauma center in nearby Savannah.
Who Is Sgt. Quornelius Radford?
A 28-year-old supply sergeant, Radford joined the Army in January 2018 and has spent his career at Fort Stewart. He had no deployments and, by most accounts, no prior disciplinary incidents. However, his family revealed that he was arrested in May for DUI and a red-light violation in nearby Hinesville—information that was not known to the base prior to the shooting.
This, along with how he smuggled a personal firearm onto base, has raised serious questions about base security and vetting procedures.
What Comes Next?
The FBI and Army Criminal Investigation Division are now leading the investigation—looking into Radford’s motive, how the weapon was brought onto the base, and whether any prevention protocols failed.
Meanwhile, President Trump and Georgia Governor Brian Kemp have been briefed on the situation. The President assured that Radford will face full legal consequences, and the Governor shared his condolences and called for community prayers.
This violent episode inside one of America’s most secure military installations has sent ripples throughout the armed forces—it’s a stark reminder that even bases need vigilance from within.
Fort Stewart: The Setting
Fort Stewart, located about 40 miles southwest of Savannah, is the largest Army installation east of the Mississippi River. Home to thousands of soldiers, their families, and the 3rd Infantry Division (including the highly regarded 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, nicknamed the “Spartan Brigade”), this shooting has shaken a community used to being safe.
The temporary lockdown, which lasted about an hour, caused controlled traffic at the base’s main gate once lifted, but operational life has gradually returned to normal as the investigation continues.
A Timeline of the Fort Stewart Shooting
Around 10:55 a.m. – A shooting unfolds in the logistics area of the 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team complex at Fort Stewart. It later emerges that a soldier fired on his fellow soldiers. Nearby troops sprang into action, tackling the shooter before police arrived.
10:56 a.m. – Law enforcement moves in following reports of gunfire within the brigade complex.
11:04 a.m. – The base goes into lockdown. Fort Stewart closes down its main areas as officials assess the threat.
11:09 a.m. – Medical teams are deployed to treat those who were wounded.
11:35 a.m. – The shooter is taken into custody.
12:10 p.m. – Officials lift the lockdown on the main cantonment, though the brigade complex remains sealed off. The incident area is no longer considered active.
12:44 p.m. – The White House confirms that President Trump has been briefed, with Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt noting that the situation is being monitored.
Around 12:45 p.m. – In nearby Liberty County, two elementary schools and a middle school enter soft lockdown as a precaution. It’s the first day of school in the district.
Around 1:30 p.m. – ABC News reports that the shooter is a male soldier, though their identity hasn’t been shared publicly yet.
1:56 p.m. – Fort Stewart issues an all-clear, lifting the lockdown on the surrounding facilities.
Between noon and 2:00 p.m. – Injured soldiers arrive at a nearby emergency hospital. Thankfully, there are no fatalities.
Around 2:00 p.m. – School lockdowns in the area are lifted, and normal routines resume.
3:30 p.m. – A press conference is held by Army and local leaders. The suspect is identified as Army Staff Sgt. Quornelius Radford, a 28-year-old active-duty soldier from Jacksonville, Florida, according to Brig. Gen. John Lubas.
