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An active-duty Army Soldier, identified as Sgt. Quornelius Radford, 28, opened fire on his fellow servicemembers, wounding five soldiers before being subdued by fellow troops. This tragic event has raised serious concerns about safety, security, and mental health within military installations, prompting a swift response from authorities and reigniting discussions about preventing such acts of violence.

The Incident.

The shooting occurred shortly before 11:00 a.m. EDT in the 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team area, where Radford, an Automated Logistics Sergeant, was assigned. Using a personal handgun—not a military-issued weapon—he targeted his fellow soldiers at his workplace. The motive behind the attack remains unclear, with Brig. Gen. John Lubas, commander of the 3rd Infantry Division and Fort Stewart-Hunter Army Airfield, stating, “We’re still not certain about the motivations.”

The base was placed on lockdown at 11:04 a.m., with an emergency alert issued to secure facilities and ensure the safety of personnel. Soldiers in the vicinity acted decisively, tackling and subduing Radford within 39 minutes, by 11:35 a.m. Brig. Gen. Lubas praised these “brave soldiers” for their quick intervention, noting that they “without a doubt, prevented further casualties.” The lockdown was lifted by 12:10 p.m., except for the 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team area, which remained secured for further investigation.

All five wounded soldiers were treated on-site and transported to Winn Army Community Hospital, with two transferred to Memorial Health University Medical Center in Savannah, a Level 1 trauma center. Three of the soldiers required surgery, but all are in stable condition and expected to recover.

The Suspect: Sgt. Quornelius Radford.

Sgt. Quornelius Radford, a 28-year-old from Jacksonville, Florida, enlisted in the Army in January 2018 and served as an automated logistical specialist, managing maintenance and warehouse operations. He had no prior combat deployments, and officials reported no known disciplinary issues within the Army before the incident. However, it was revealed that Radford had been arrested on May 18, 2025, for driving under the influence (DUI) and running a red light in Liberty County, Georgia. This arrest was unknown to his chain of command until after the shooting, raising questions about oversight and communication within the military. Radford was released on a $1,818 bond and faces a hearing on August 20 for the traffic case.

Radford is currently in pretrial confinement and is being questioned by the Army Criminal Investigation Division (CID), with assistance from the FBI’s Savannah office. Authorities are investigating how Radford managed to bring a personal handgun onto the base, where firearms are strictly regulated and typically stored in armories.

Response and Investigation.

The incident prompted a robust response from military and civilian authorities. The Army CID is leading the investigation, focusing on the motive and how Radford bypassed security measures to bring a personal weapon to his workplace. Brig. Gen. Lubas emphasized the need to determine how the handgun was brought onto the base, stating, “We’re going to have to determine how he was able to get a handgun to his place of duty.” Despite the breach, Lubas expressed confidence in the base’s overall security.

President Donald Trump was briefed on the shooting and condemned the act, calling Radford a “horrible person” and assuring that the Army would prosecute him “to the fullest extent of the law.” Georgia Governor Brian Kemp, along with his family, expressed sadness and offered prayers for the victims, their families, and the Fort Stewart community. Other officials, including Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, and Georgia Senators Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff, voiced support and committed to monitoring the situation.

Context and Broader Implications.

This shooting marks the second significant violent incident at Fort Stewart in recent years. In December 2022, Sgt. Nathan Hillman, a 30-year-old Afghanistan veteran, was killed in a shooting within the same 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team area. The suspect in that case, Spc. Shay A. Wilson, faces a pending murder charge.

The incident also adds to a troubling history of violence on U.S. military bases, including the 2009 Fort Hood shooting (13 killed, 30 wounded), the 2013 Washington Navy Yard shooting (12 killed), and the 2014 Fort Hood shooting (3 killed, 16 wounded). These events highlight ongoing challenges in ensuring safety within military installations, which are designed to be highly secure.

The phrase “Friendly fire is not to be tolerated” resonates deeply in this context, as it underscores the betrayal of trust when a soldier turns a weapon on their own comrades. While the term traditionally refers to accidental attacks on allied forces in combat, its sentiment applies here, reflecting the shock and condemnation of an intentional act against fellow soldiers. This incident has sparked renewed conversations about soldier wellness, mental health support, and the need for stricter oversight of personal firearms on military bases.

Community and Official Reactions.

The Fort Stewart community, home to approximately 15,000 active-duty soldiers, 16,000 family members, and 4,000 civilian employees, was deeply shaken. A Burger King manager on the base described how staff hid in a safe room during the lockdown, monitoring social media for updates while insulated from the sounds of chaos.

Local schools, including Button Gwinnett Elementary, Joseph Martin Elementary, and Snelson Golden Middle School, were placed on soft lockdown out of caution, though these measures were lifted by the afternoon. The Liberty County and Appling County school systems coordinated closely with law enforcement to ensure safety.

Fort Stewart’s Public Affairs office announced that counseling services are available for soldiers and families affected by the trauma. The swift actions of the soldiers who subdued Radford were widely praised, with Brig. Gen. Lubas highlighting their courage as a testament to the resilience and camaraderie within the Army.

My Take.

The shooting at Fort Stewart, where Sgt. Quornelius Radford opened fire on his fellow soldiers, wounding five, is an indefensible and horrific act that betrays the trust and camaraderie at the heart of military service. His actions were unequivocally wrong, evil, and a gross violation of the values soldiers are sworn to uphold. The phrase “friendly fire is not to be tolerated” resonates profoundly here, as this was no accident but a deliberate attack on his own comrades. Given the severity of the incident, I fully expect Radford to face the harshest consequences under both civilian law and the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ). The bravery of the soldiers who tackled and subdued him likely prevented further tragedy, and their actions stand as a testament to the strength and unity within the ranks, even in the face of such a betrayal.

That said, the incident raises serious questions about mental health in the military, an issue that continues to plague service members. Radford’s prior DUI arrest in May 2025, which went unnoticed by his chain of command, suggests underlying personal struggles that may have gone unaddressed—whether due to his own efforts to hide them or systemic failures in oversight. Mental health challenges, compounded by the stresses of military life, can fester if ignored, and this tragedy underscores the urgent need for better support systems, proactive intervention, and destigmatization of seeking help. While these factors don’t excuse Radford’s actions in any way, they highlight a broader issue: the military must improve how it identifies and supports soldiers grappling with personal crises to prevent such devastating outcomes in the future.

Final Notes.

As the investigation continues, the Army and FBI are working to uncover the circumstances that led to this tragedy. Key questions remain: What drove Sgt. Radford to commit this act? How did he bypass stringent firearms regulations? And what measures can be implemented to prevent similar incidents in the future? The Fort Stewart shooting serves as a stark reminder of the need for vigilance, mental health resources, and robust security protocols within the military.

The nation joins the Fort Stewart community in praying for the full recovery of the wounded soldiers and supporting their families. As President Trump stated, “The entire nation is praying for the victims and their families, and hopefully, they’ll fully recover, and we can put this chapter behind us, but we’re not going to forget what happened.”

This incident underscores that “friendly fire is not to be tolerated,” whether in combat or within the ranks. The bravery of the soldiers who stopped the attack and the resilience of the Fort Stewart community will be critical as they heal and move forward.

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