A U.S. Army sergeant opened fire at Fort Stewart on Wednesday, injuring five of his fellow soldiers at the southeast Georgia base, authorities said.
Officials said Sgt. Quornelius Radford, 28, used a personal handgun to shoot at his coworkers in the 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team area of the base, which was placed under lockdown at about 11 a.m.
Other soldiers immediately tackled the suspect until law enforcement arrived. The shooting victims are all expected to survive and an “all clear” was issued shortly before 2 p.m.
“Our priority focus is first caring for our injured soldiers and their families and also supporting the soldiers of the spartan brigade,” Brig. Gen. John Lubas said.
Stay with the AJC for live updates.
Sgt. Quornelius Radford was arrested in May in Liberty County on charges of driving under the influence of alcohol and running a red light, just months after he was cited for speeding.
According to court documents, Radford was granted a $1,818 bond on May 18, the same day he was arrested by the Georgia State Patrol. In the traffic citation, troopers said Radford ran the red light because he needed "to use the bathroom."
Glynn County court records show Radford was cited for speeding and given a ticket Dec. 13. According to records, Radford has not paid the $140 to clear the citation.
Authorities are holding Sgt. Quornelius Radford, accused of opening fire on his coworkers at Fort Stewart, at the base in pre-trial confinement.
He was being interviewed Wednesday by the Army Criminal Investigation Division. Charges have not yet been filed. The case will be handled by the Army Office of Special Trial Counsel, Army officials said.
Radford has been stationed at Fort Stewart since 2022, authorities said.
Radford is pictured here in a mugshot provided by the Liberty County Sheriff's Office from a May DUI arrest.
A U.S. Army sergeant was killed at Fort Stewart three years before Wednesday's shooting.
Spc. Shay A. Wilson was accused of fatally shooting 30-year-old Sgt. Nathan M. Hillman with a 9mm pistol at the 2nd Brigade’s building complex on Dec. 12, 2022, according to online records.
He was charged with murder and was indicted last month, court records show. On Wednesday, Wilson was arraigned in the case.
U.S. Army officials said Sgt. Quornelius Radford, 28, used a personal handgun to shoot five of his coworkers in the 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team area of the base.
However, Fort Stewart and all Army installations in Georgia prohibit privately owned weapons and ammunition on post unless authorized by a senior commander, according to a notice on the installation’s website.
According to the notice, Georgia’s Constitutional Carry Act, which became law in 2022 and allows residents to carry concealed handguns without first getting a license, does not apply to Fort Stewart-Hunter Army Airfield or any Army installation in Georgia.
The notice also states that carrying a concealed weapon on the base is not allowed even with a state or county permit.
William Bromberg, a trauma surgeon at Memorial Health University Medical Center in Savannah — where two injured soldiers from Fort Stewart were taken — said Memorial is the only Level 1 trauma center between Charleston, South Carolina, Macon, Georgia and Jacksonville, Florida.
“We have an enormous catchment area,” Bromberg said.
Memorial is about an hour east of Fort Stewart and has previously worked with the military hospital on improving its trauma treatment capabilities, Bromberg said.
“The military has, in my experience since 2002 and even before, has been inextricably linked to Savannah and to this hospital,” Bromberg said.
The shooting at Fort Stewart took place at Sgt. Quornelius Radford's workplace and involved his coworkers, U.S. Army officials said.
The sergeant, assigned to the 2nd Brigade Combat Team at the base, is accused of firing a personal handgun at his coworkers, officials said.
Other soldiers "immediately and without hesitation tackled the soldier" until law enforcement could arrive, Brig. Gen. John W. Lubas said.
Officials did not say how long Radford had been stationed at Fort Stewart.
Memorial Health University Medical Center general surgeon William Bromberg spoke to reporters gathered at the hospital where two of the shooting victims were eventually taken.
He said once a patient hits the trauma bay door, blood is supplied within two to five minutes, and they are moved into an operating room within 15 minutes. Bromberg explained that those are requirements for any Level 1 Trauma Center.
All five of those injured in the shooting were initially taken to Winn Army Community Hospital.
He did not release information on the victims but said the hospital has always had close ties with the military.
"We really care about our military," Bromberg said.
The suspect accused of shooting five fellow soldiers used a personal handgun and not a military weapon, an Army spokesperson said.
It was not known how the alleged shooter, identified as Quornelius Radford, was able to get the gun onto the base. A possible motive was not released, but Radford was interviewed, the Army said.
Radford, 28, was arrested in recent weeks, the Army confirmed. But his commanders were unaware of the arrest.
The five soldiers injured in the shooting are stable and expected to survive, the U.S. Army said.
The victims' names were not released, but the families have been notified.
After the shooting, the wounded were taken to Wynn Army Community Hospital on Fort Stewart. Three underwent surgery and two were transported to Memorial Health University Medical Center's Level 1 Trauma Center in Savannah, according to Brig. Gen. John Lubas.
“Our priority focus is first caring for our injured soldiers and their families and also supporting the soldiers of the spartan brigade,” Lubas said.
Officials will hold a news conference at 3:30 p.m. at Fort Stewart to discuss the Wednesday morning shooting. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution has reporters and a photojournalist headed to the scene.
Here's what we know so far about the incident:
- A shooter opened fire at Fort Stewart in South Georgia on Wednesday morning, prompting a lockdown around 11 a.m.
- Five soldiers were injured. The soldiers were taken to Winn Army Community Hospital, and two were later taken to Memorial Health University Medical Center's Level 1 Trauma Center in Savannah, the hospital confirmed. Their conditions have not been released.
- Police took a suspect into custody roughly 40 minutes after they were dispatched. Additional information about the suspect has not been released.
- Fort Stewart, near Hinesville, is home to about 8,800 people and is the largest U.S. Army installation east of the Mississippi River, according to the U.S. Defense Department. The post supports about 15,000 active duty soldiers, 16,000 family members and 5,100 military retirees, among many others.
This is the original breaking news alert:
Casualties have been reported during a shooting at Fort Stewart in southeast Georgia, officials said Wednesday.
The U.S. Army base was placed under lockdown at about 11 a.m. and all gates remain closed. The incident occurred in the 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team area.
“Casualties have been reported and the situation is ongoing,” the base stated.
Personnel were asked to stay inside during the lockdown, which includes the 2ABCT area and the Wright and Evans Army Airfield. The base is near Hinesville, about 40 miles from Savannah.
“Lock down your facility immediately, stay inside, close and lock all windows and doors,“ the post said in a statement. ”Keep telephone lines open and report accountability to your leadership.”
In a statement, Gov. Brian Kemp said his family was saddened by “today’s tragedy at Ft. Stewart.” He said his office remains in close contact with law enforcement on the ground.
“We are keeping the victims, their families and all those who answer the call to serve in our hearts and prayers, and we ask that Georgians everywhere do the same,” Kemp said.
FBI Atlanta said its Savannah office was aware of the incident and was coordinating with the Army Criminal Investigation Division for “any assistance that might be needed.”
Appling County schools and Liberty County schools were also placed under lockdown due to the incident, including Button Gwinnett Elementary, Joseph Martin Elementary and Snelson-Golden Middle School.
“We are continuing to work closely with law enforcement to ensure the safety of our students and staff,” the Liberty school system said in a statement. “Thank you for your patience and support as we prioritize the safety of our campuses.”
The incident did not prompt a lockdown or high alerts at Fort Benning near Columbus or Fort Gordon near Augusta.
— Staff writer Jozsef Papp contributed to this article. Please return to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution for updates.
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