On August 6, 2025, a shooting incident occurred at Fort Stewart, a major U.S. Army base located in southeast Georgia, approximately 40 miles southwest of Savannah. The base, the largest Army installation east of the Mississippi River, spans nearly 280,000 acres and is home to the 3rd Infantry Division, housing thousands of soldiers and their families. The suspect, identified as 28-year-old Sgt. Quornelius Samentrio Radford, an automated logistical sergeant from Jacksonville, Florida, allegedly opened fire in the 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team (ABCT) area, injuring five fellow soldiers. Radford, who joined the Army in January 2018 and had no prior combat deployments, used a personal handgun, not a military-issued weapon, in the attack at his workplace, targeting coworkers.
Beyond the Headlines: The Full Story of the Fort Stewart Shooting and Its Lingering Questions
The incident began shortly before 11:00 a.m. ET, prompting a lockdown of Fort Stewart, including Wright and Evans Army Airfields, at 11:04 a.m. Soldiers who witnessed the shooting acted swiftly, tackling and subduing Radford by 11:35 a.m., preventing further casualties. Law enforcement, including the Army Criminal Investigation Division, FBI, and ATF, responded, and Radford was taken into custody and placed in pretrial confinement at Liberty County Jail. The motive remains unclear, though Radford’s father, Eddie Radford, told The New York Times that his son had sought a transfer from Fort Stewart, citing experiences of racism, and had sent a cryptic text to his aunt about being in a “better place” soon. No history of serious mental health issues was noted, though he experienced depression related to his mother’s death during childhood.
The Aftermath of the Fort Stewart Shooting: From Hospital to Investigation
All five injured soldiers are in stable condition and expected to recover. Three required surgery, with two transferred to Memorial Health University Medical Center in Savannah, a Level 1 trauma center, due to the severity of their injuries. The lockdown was lifted by 2:00 p.m., and nearby schools in Liberty and Appling Counties, initially placed on soft lockdown, were cleared. The Army is investigating how Radford brought a personal weapon onto the base, where firearms are strictly regulated. Radford had a prior DUI arrest in May 2025, unknown to his chain of command until after the shooting, with a court date set for August 20 in Hinesville, Georgia.
The Fort Stewart Shooting: A Tragic Precedent and a Call for Action
Public officials, including President Donald Trump, who called the shooting an “atrocity,” and Georgia Governor Brian Kemp, expressed condolences and support for the victims. The incident, the second shooting in the 2nd ABCT area since December 2022 when Sgt. Nathan Hillman was killed, has raised concerns about safety on military installations. The investigation continues, with no further threat to the community reported.
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