Fort Stewart shooting involved a soldier, a personal handgun, and coworkers, US Army says

The gate sign of Fort Stewart, Georgia, is pictured. The grass is green in the foreground and the sky is cloudy in the background. — Fort Stewart is home to the US Army’s 3rd Infantry Division and Hunter Army Airfield.

AP Photo/Russ Bynum

A US Army general said Thursday afternoon that the shooting at Fort Stewart in Georgia earlier in the day involved a soldier with a personal handgun and his coworkers.

Army officials identified the shooting suspect as 28-year-old Sgt. Quornelius Radford, who is now in custody and being questioned by the Army Criminal Investigation Division.

The shooting occurred Wednesday morning at the 2nd Armored Brigade Combat area of the base. Radford, officials alleged, brought his personal handgun onto base and shot five people before being subdued and subsequently apprehended.

Brig. Gen. John Lubas, the commanding general for the 3rd Infantry Division, said in a press conference that all of the victims are currently in stable condition at a nearby hospital and their families have been notified.

While the motivations for the shooting are currently unknown, Lubas shared that “what we know is the soldier, the shooting occurred at the soldier’s place of work. It did involve his coworkers.”

Five soldiers walk in a line on pavement with grass, trees, and a building in the background. The sky is blue with some clouds. — Lubas said Army officials were determining how the suspect got his handgun on base.

US Army photo by Pfc. Jude Vogel

The soldiers in the area at the time of the incident “immediately and without hesitation tackled” the shooting suspect, subduing him before law enforcement took him into custody, Lubas said.

During the Wednesday afternoon press conference, Lubas said that he was unaware of any behavioral issues involving the shooting suspect and confirmed that they did not use a military weapon. “We believe it was a personal handgun,” he added. Lubas said it was unclear how the shooting suspect got the handgun on base.

Radford, Lubas said, had been arrested on charges of driving under the influence in May. His chain of command was unaware of these charges prior to the shooting.

The shooting is the latest in a string of violent incidents at US military bases in recent years, some described by law enforcement and military officials as workplace shootings and others as acts of terrorism.

There was a previous incident in December 2022 in which a soldier shot and killed a sergeant at Fort Stewart. The shooter used a personal handgun and was charged with murder in military court. Both the shooter and victim served in the 2nd Brigade Combat Team of the 3rd Infantry Division.

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