Fort Stewart shooting suspect linked to Jacksonville; 5 soldiers injured

Background on the Arrested Soldier

A U.S. Army sergeant from Jacksonville has been arrested following a shooting incident at Fort Stewart in South Georgia, where five soldiers were injured. According to officials, the sergeant, identified as Sgt. Quornelius Radford, was apprehended at the scene. Army Brig. Gen. John Lubas, commander of the 3rd Infantry Division and Fort Stewart, confirmed that all five victims are in stable condition and expected to recover.

Radford, a 28-year-old automated logistics noncommissioned officer assigned to the 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, had recently been arrested for driving under the influence. However, this information was not known to his chain of command until after the shooting occurred. Radford joined Fort Stewart in 2022 and is currently being held on-site by the Army Criminal Investigation Division. No records of his involvement in any Duval, Clay, Nassau, or St. Johns county court cases have been found, according to a Florida Times-Union search. Radford, also known as Quan, attended Ed White High School in Jacksonville, as noted on his Facebook profile.

Details of the Shooting Incident

The shooting took place on August 6 at Radford's workplace, involving his co-workers. The sergeant used a personal handgun during the attack. Soldiers who witnessed the event subdued Radford, preventing further casualties, according to General Lubas. Two injured soldiers were transported via ambulance to Memorial Health University Medical Center in Savannah, an hour away, due to helicopter unavailability caused by local weather conditions.

Radford opened fire shortly before 11 a.m. in an area associated with the 3rd Infantry Division’s 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, which had returned from a deployment in Europe in the summer of 2024. The entire fort was locked down, and Radford was apprehended at 11:35 a.m. The lockdown was lifted for most of the base around midday, and the post was declared "all clear" just before 2 p.m. Eastern Time.

Multiple law enforcement agencies, including the Hinesville Police Department, responded to the incident. The FBI also arrived at Fort Stewart, offering resources or investigative support as requested. Both President Donald Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth were briefed on the situation and monitoring it closely.

Previous Incidents in the Unit

This shooting marks the second incident in recent years within the 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team's workspace. In December 2022, a fellow soldier shot and killed Sgt. Nathan Hillman in the unit's building complex.

Impact on Families and Local Communities

The incident sent loved ones on base scrambling for safety. Sadie Mohrbacher, who was watching a movie, received a text message about an active shooter on base. Her sister, Paige Siple, who lives on the base, locked herself in an upstairs closet with her dog while her husband, an active-duty soldier, was safe and able to return home after the lockdown was partially lifted.

Major On-Base Shootings in Recent Decades

Other military bases have experienced similar incidents. In 2019, a foreign flight training officer from Saudi Arabia killed three Navy sailors and wounded eight others at Naval Air Station Pensacola in Florida. In 2014, an Army specialist stationed at Fort Hood, Texas, killed three soldiers and wounded 12 more before dying by suicide. In 2013, Navy contractor Aaron Alexis killed 12 people at the Navy Yard in Washington, D.C., and in 2009, Army psychiatrist Maj. Nidal Hasan killed 13 people at Fort Hood, Texas.

School Lockdowns and Community Response

As the shooting unfolded, multiple schools in and around Fort Stewart went into temporary lockdowns. Three schools serving military personnel were placed on lockdown, and the lockdown was lifted around 12:30 p.m. In Liberty County, two elementary schools and a middle school implemented a soft lockdown out of caution, while over 20 schools in Appling County were placed under a level 1 lockdown before being lifted.

Georgia lawmakers expressed their concern and prayers for the affected soldiers and families. Rep. Buddy Carter, Rep. Mike Collins, and Sen. Raphael Warnock all called for prayers for the safety of the servicemembers and first responders.

Overview of Fort Stewart

Fort Stewart is a large military installation in southeast Georgia, covering 438 square miles—larger than New York City. It is home to the Army’s 3rd Infantry Division and approximately 10,000 residents, including active duty troops, family members, and civilian employees. Established in 1940 as an anti-aircraft training facility, the base has grown significantly over the decades to serve thousands of military personnel and civilians.