Suspect in Custody After Fort Stewart Shooting, 5 Soldiers Injured

Incident at Fort Stewart Leaves Five Soldiers Wounded

A disturbing incident occurred on Wednesday at Fort Stewart in Georgia when an active-duty sergeant opened fire on his coworkers, resulting in five soldiers being wounded. The suspect, who was quickly taken into custody, used a personal weapon during the attack, according to Brig. Gen. John Lubas, the fort's commander.

The individual identified as the suspect is Quornelius Radford, a 28-year-old automated logistics sergeant with the 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team. He joined the Army in January 2018 and is originally from Jacksonville, Florida. According to officials, Radford had not been deployed to combat before this incident.

The shooting took place in the area of the combat team at Fort Stewart. All five injured soldiers were reported to be in stable condition and are expected to make a full recovery. Three of them required surgery following the incident. Immediately after the shooting, the wounded were treated on-site and transported to an Army hospital. Two of the soldiers were later moved to a hospital in Savannah, Georgia, for further care. However, none of the soldiers have been publicly identified.

Brig. Gen. Lubas stated that the suspect is currently in pretrial confinement and has been interviewed by the Army's Criminal Investigative Division, which is conducting an ongoing investigation. At this time, the motivation behind the shooting remains unclear. Lubas mentioned that the suspect had previously been arrested for a DUI, although this information was not known to his chain of command. Additionally, it was confirmed that the weapon used in the shooting was a personal one, not a military-issued firearm.

During the incident, soldiers in the immediate vicinity acted swiftly and without hesitation, tackling the suspect and subduing him. Lubas emphasized that these actions likely prevented further casualties. He also noted that there is no indication the shooting was connected to terrorism or extremist beliefs, and there is no threat to the local community.

Law enforcement officers responded to initial reports of the shooting at 10:56 a.m. local time. The fort was placed on lockdown at 11:04 a.m., and the suspect was in custody by 11:35 a.m. Officials announced on social media that the facility was "all clear" just before 2 p.m.

President Donald Trump was briefed on the incident, and the White House is monitoring the situation. Press secretary Karoline Leavitt shared this update on social media. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth was also informed about the shooting, according to a defense official.

In a statement from the Oval Office, Trump condemned the incident, calling it an "atrocity" and vowing that the perpetrator would be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. He expressed hope for the recovery of the victims and their families, while emphasizing the need to move forward from this tragic event.

Hegseth also addressed the incident through a social media post, expressing gratitude for the swift actions of law enforcement and pledging swift justice for the suspect. He praised the bravery of the soldiers and offered prayers for the victims and their families.

Fort Stewart is the largest Army installation east of the Mississippi River, covering nearly 280,000 acres. With an estimated population of 8,821 people based on the 2020 census, the base is located near the small town of Hinesville, Georgia, approximately 40 miles southwest of Savannah.

Georgia Governor Brian Kemp also shared his concern on social media, stating that he is in contact with responding law enforcement. He urged Georgians to keep the victims, their families, and all those who serve in their thoughts and prayers.