Army sergeant shot 5 soldiers before he was tackled and arrested at Fort
Stewart, officials say
[August 07, 2025]
By RUSS BYNUM and MIKE CATALINI
FORT STEWART, Ga. (AP) — A sergeant shot five soldiers Wednesday at one
the country’s largest Army bases before he was quickly tackled by other
Fort Stewart troops, forcing a brief lockdown, officials said.
Few details were immediately available about what led to the gunfire,
but officials said the shooter was Sgt. Quornelius Radford, 28, who used
a personal handgun, not a military firearm.
Radford opened fire where he worked but officials wouldn’t speculate
about a motive, authorities said.
The injured soldiers are stable and expected to recover, said Brig Gen.
John Lubas. The soldiers who tackled Radford helped ensure his arrest,
said Lubas, who commands the 3rd Infantry Division.
“These soldiers, without a doubt, prevented further casualties or
wounded,” he said.
This latest act of violence on a U.S. military installation — sites that
are supposed to be among the most secure in the country — again raised
concerns about safety and security within the armed forces’ own walls.
The Army said it's investigating the shooting. There were still many
unanswered questions, including the scope of the injuries and the
shooter's motive.
The injured were taken to the hospital and three underwent surgery,
officials said.
A telephone number listed for Radford in public records rang unanswered.
Army records released to The Associated Press show that Radford enlisted
in January 2018. He worked as a supply sergeant and has not been
deployed.
Radford faced an Aug. 20 hearing in Hinesville, a small town near the
base, on accusations of driving under the influence and running a red
light just after 1 a.m. on May 18, according to a citation and court
filing. He was given a blood test and freed on a $1,818 bond, the
documents said.
Attorney Sneh Patel is representing Radford in the traffic case but not
the shooting as of Wednesday, he said in an email. He cited
attorney-client privilege in declining to comment about any his
conversations with Radford.
Law enforcement was sent to the 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team complex
shortly before 11 a.m. The shooter was arrested at 11:35 a.m., officials
said.
The lockdown lasted about an hour. After it was lifted, cars began to
move through the normal security checkpoint at the fort’s main gate.
[to top of second column]
|
A sign welcoming people to Fort Stewart in Georgia is seen on
Wednesday, Aug. 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)
The Army’s 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team was created in 2016 when the
service added more than 200 vehicles to an infantry unit of roughly
4,200 soldiers. Also known as the “Spartan Brigade,” the Army has called
the unit its “most modern land fighting force.”
Located about 40 miles (64 kilometers) southwest of Savannah, Fort
Stewart is the largest Army post east of the Mississippi River by land
area. It’s home to thousands of soldiers assigned to the Army’s 3rd
Infantry Division and family members.
President Donald Trump called the shooter a “horrible person” in
comments to reporters at the White House.
The FBI was at the fort to help investigate, said Deputy Director Dan
Bongino.
Among the deadliest acts of violence on U.S. military bases was a 2009
attack. A U.S. Army psychiatrist killed 13 people in a shooting that
left more than 30 wounded at Fort Hood, a military installation in
Texas.
In 2013, a defense contract worker and former Navy reservist killed 12
people at Washington Navy Yard. He was then killed in a gun battle with
police.
In 2014, a soldier opened fire on his fellow service members at Fort
Hood, killing three people and wounding more than a dozen others before
the gunman killed himself.
In 2019, an aviation student opened fire in a classroom at Naval Air
Station Pensacola in Florida, killing three people and injuring another
dozen people including two sheriff’s deputies. Just days earlier, a U.S.
Navy sailor shot two people to death before killing himself at Pearl
Harbor, the Naval station in Hawaii.
___
Catalini contributed from Trenton, New Jersey; and Associated Press
writers Jeff Martin and Jeff Amy in Atlanta; Mike Balsamo, Konstantin
Toropin and Mike Pesoli in Washington, D.C.; Claudia Lauer in
Philadelphia; and Audrey McAvoy in Honolulu contributed to this report.
All contents © copyright 2025 Associated Press. All rights reserved
 |
