A U.S. Army sergeant at Fort Stewart is in custody after allegedly opening fire and injuring several of his co-workers Wednesday morning.
The suspect has been identified as 28-year-old Quornelius Radford from Jacksonville, Florida, an Army spokesperson confirmed.
Gunfire erupted around 11 a.m. at the southeast Georgia base, prompting a lockdown. Five soldiers were injured, but all are expected to survive, officials said during an afternoon news conference on the base. Their names have not been released.
Radford, who has been stationed at Fort Stewart since 2022 and was assigned to the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, is accused of using a personal handgun. It was not clear how he was able to get the gun onto the base.
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.
Radford joined the Army in 2018 as an automated logistical specialist, which involves performing “maintenance management and warehouse functions in order to maintain equipment records,” according to the Army’s website. He had never been deployed.
Brig. Gen. John W. Lubas said other soldiers near the scene quickly tackled the suspect until law enforcement arrived. Authorities apprehended Radford by 11:35 a.m.
He was booked into the Liberty County Jail and was placed “on hold” for Fort Stewart and the Army Criminal Investigation Division. He is expected to be transferred to a military detention facility, officials said.
A possible motive has not been released, though officials said Radford was interviewed by the Army CID.
Charges have not been filed. The case will be handled by the Army Office of Special Trial Counsel, authorities said.
Glynn County court records show Radford was cited for speeding and given a ticket Dec. 13. He has not paid the $140 to clear the citation, records reveal.
In May, just months after he was cited for speeding, Radford was arrested on charges of driving under the influence of alcohol and running a red light in Liberty County. The Army confirmed the arrest but said his commanders were not aware of it.
According to court documents, Radford was granted an $1,818 bond 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.”
According to an incident report obtained by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Radford’s eyes were “bloodshot” and “watery,” with his speech being mumbled. Troopers could smell a “strong odor of an alcoholic beverage coming from his breath.”
When asked if he had consumed any alcohol, Radford said he had a beer two hours before the traffic stop, according to the report. After being asked to step out of the vehicle, Radford refused to do a field sobriety test or provide a breath sample, stating he was not drunk.
— Staff writer Jozsef Papp contributed to this article.
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