Fort Stewart Shooting: Army Sergeant Injures Five in Georgia Base Attack

Hinesville, GA – A serene morning at Fort Stewart, the largest U.S. Army base east of the Mississippi, turned chaotic on August 6, 2025, when Sgt. Quornelius Radford, a 28-year-old automated logistics sergeant, opened fire on his coworkers, injuring five soldiers. The incident, which occurred at approximately 10:56 a.m. in the 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team (2ABCT) area, prompted a swift lockdown of the base and surrounding schools, creating shock waves among the military and local communities.

The Incident Unfolds

At 10:56 a.m., gunfire erupted at Fort Stewart, located about 40 miles southwest of Savannah, Georgia. Radford, armed with a personal handgun, targeted fellow soldiers at his workplace within the 2ABCT area. Within minutes, at 11:04 a.m., base authorities initiated a lockdown, directing personnel to secure facilities and remain indoors. Soldiers in the vicinity acted decisively, tackling and subduing Radford by 11:35 a.m., preventing further harm. Law enforcement, including military police and the Army Criminal Investigation Division, took Radford into custody, and he was later transported to Liberty County Jail.

The five injured soldiers were promptly treated on-site and transferred to Winn Army Community Hospital. Three required surgical intervention, and two were moved to Memorial Health University Medical Center in Savannah for advanced trauma care. Brig. Gen. John Lubas, commander of the 3rd Infantry Division and Fort Stewart-Hunter Army Airfield, confirmed that all victims are in stable condition and expected to make a full recovery.

The Suspect: Sgt. Quornelius Radford

Sgt. Quornelius Radford, a native of Jacksonville, Florida, enlisted in the Army in 2018 and had been based at Fort Stewart since 2022. Authorities revealed that Radford had no combat deployments and no recorded disciplinary issues within the military. However, a May 2025 arrest for driving under the influence and running a red light raised questions about oversight, as his chain of command did not know about it until after the shooting. Radford’s father, Eddie Radford, told The New York Times that his son had complained of racism at Fort Stewart and was seeking a transfer. A text message sent to his aunt on the morning of the shooting hinted at distress, though its full context remains under investigation.

The use of a personal handgun, not a military-issued weapon, has prompted scrutiny of how Radford bypassed Fort Stewart’s strict firearm regulations. Brig. Gen. Lubas noted that investigators are working to understand how the weapon was brought onto the base, a critical focus of the ongoing probe led by the Army Criminal Investigation Division, with FBI support.

Community and Official Responses

The shooting triggered widespread concern and solidarity. President Donald Trump, briefed on the incident, labeled it an “atrocity” and vowed that Radford would face justice under the Uniform Code of Military Justice. Georgia Governor Brian Kemp expressed sorrow, stating, “We are keeping the victims, their families, and all those who answer the call to serve in our hearts and prayers.” Hinesville Mayor Karl Riles emphasized the deep ties between the city and Fort Stewart, calling the base’s personnel “neighbors, friends, and family.”

The rapid response of soldiers who subdued Radford was widely praised. “These soldiers, without a doubt, prevented further casualties,” Lubas said during a 3:30 p.m. press conference. By early afternoon, authorities lifted the lockdown that affected three on-base schools and six in nearby Liberty and Appling Counties, allowing normal operations to resume.

A Troubling Pattern

The Fort Stewart shooting adds to a grim history of violence on U.S. military bases, including the 2009 Fort Hood shooting (13 killed), the 2013 Washington Navy Yard shooting (12 killed), and the 2014 Fort Hood shooting (3 killed). The incident is also part of a broader wave of over 260 mass shootings in the U.S. in 2025, as reported by the Gun Violence Archive.

As the investigation continues, questions linger about Radford’s motives and the systemic factors that may have contributed to the incident. Francesca Elmer, a military spouse, suggested to the Savannah Morning News that soldiers face intense stress and poor working conditions, though these claims await verification. For now, Fort Stewart focuses on healing, supporting the injured, and ensuring such a tragedy does not recur.