Fort Stewart Mass Shooter Identified as 28-year-old Army Sergeant Quornelius Samentrio Radford

17GEN4 News - Fort Stewart Mass Shooter Identified as 28-year-old Army Sergeant Quornelius Samentrio Radford - 17GEN4.com

Army Sergeant Identified as Gunman in Fort Stewart Shooting, Five Soldiers Injured

HINESVILLE, Ga. — A shooting at Fort Stewart, a major U.S. Army base in southeast Georgia, left five soldiers wounded on Wednesday morning, prompting a swift lockdown and a coordinated response from military and federal authorities. The suspected gunman, identified as 28-year-old Army Sergeant Quornelius Samentrio Radford, was apprehended after fellow soldiers intervened, tackling and subduing him at the scene.

The incident occurred at approximately 10:56 a.m. in the 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team area, where Radford, an automated logistics sergeant assigned to the brigade, allegedly opened fire on his co-workers using a personal handgun. Brigadier General John Lubas, commander of the 3rd Infantry Division and Fort Stewart-Hunter Army Airfield, confirmed during a press conference that the shooting took place at Radford’s workplace. “We’re still not certain about the motivations,” Lubas said, noting that the suspect is currently in pretrial confinement and being interviewed by the Army Criminal Investigation Division.

All five injured soldiers are in stable condition and expected to recover, with three requiring surgery. Two of the victims were transported to Memorial Health University Medical Center in Savannah, a Level 1 trauma center about 40 miles from the base, while the others were treated at Winn Army Community Hospital on-site. Lubas praised the “brave soldiers” who acted “immediately and without hesitation” to subdue Radford, stating their actions “without a doubt” prevented further harm.

Radford, originally from Jacksonville, Florida, joined the Army in January 2018 and has no record of combat deployments. Authorities revealed that he was arrested in May for driving under the influence in Liberty County, a fact unknown to his chain of command until after the shooting. Investigators are now probing how Radford managed to bring a personal firearm onto the base, as the weapon used was not military-issued. “We’re going to have to determine how he was able to get a handgun to his place of duty,” Lubas said, while expressing confidence in the base’s security measures.

The shooting triggered a lockdown of Fort Stewart, Wright Army Airfield, and Evans Army Airfield, which was lifted just before 2 p.m. after Radford’s apprehension at 11:35 a.m. Nearby schools, including Button Gwinnett Elementary, Joseph Martin Elementary, and Snelson Golden Middle School, were placed on soft lockdown out of caution, with the restrictions lifted by early afternoon. The FBI, ATF, and Georgia State Patrol are assisting in the ongoing investigation.

Fort Stewart, the largest Army installation east of the Mississippi River, spans nearly 280,000 acres and is home to approximately 21,000 active-duty soldiers and thousands of family members and civilian employees. The base, located about 40 miles southwest of Savannah, supports the 3rd Infantry Division and serves as a critical hub for training and deploying Army units.

Public officials expressed grief and support for the victims. Georgia Governor Brian Kemp stated, “We are keeping the victims, their families, and all those who answer the call to serve in our hearts and prayers.” Savannah Mayor Van Johnson emphasized the close ties between the base and the community, noting, “When they hurt, we hurt as well.” President Donald Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth were briefed on the incident, with the White House monitoring the situation closely.

The motive behind the shooting remains under investigation, with military officials declining to speculate pending further findings. This incident marks the second notable shooting at Fort Stewart in recent years, following the 2022 killing of Sgt. Nathan Hillman by a fellow soldier. As the investigation continues, authorities are focused on supporting the victims and ensuring the safety of the Fort Stewart community.

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