An Army sergeant opened fire inside Fort Stewart, Georgia, and wounded five other soldiers before being arrested Wednesday morning, military officials said.
Brig. Gen. John Lubas, the commanding general of the 3rd Infantry Division and the Fort Stewart-Hunter Army Airfield, said law enforcement on base arrested Sgt. Quornelius Radford soon after shots rang out at about 11 a.m.
All five of those wounded are in stable condition and are expected to recover, Brig. Gen. Lubas said, thanks in part to fast-acting troops who ran toward the danger.
“Soldiers in the area that witnessed the shooting immediately and without hesitation tackled the soldier, subdued him. That allowed law enforcement to then take him into custody,” the commanding general said during a press briefing.
“These soldiers, without a doubt, prevented further casualties,” he added.
Brig. Gen. Lubas said three of the soldiers needed surgery after suffering bullet wounds. Two of the victims were taken to a hospital in Savannah, which is roughly 40 miles northeast of the sprawling installation.
“We are keeping the victims, their families, and all those who answer the call to serve in our hearts and prayers,” Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp posted on social media.
Officials said Sgt. Radford sneaked a personal handgun on base to carry out the shooting against his coworkers. The base will review its security procedures to see how the suspect was able to bring in his own weapon for a shooting that still has no clear motive.
“We will not speculate as to any intentions, motives or back stories, given that this is an ongoing investigation,” said Lt. Col. Angel Tomko, a spokesman for Fort Stewart police.
The commanding general said Sgt. Radford, 28, is behind bars while he awaits charges from the Office of the Special Trial Counsel.
After the shooting, Brig. Gen. Lubas said Wednesday that Army leadership learned after the shooting that the suspect had been arrested in May. Local police records show Sgt. Radford spent a night in the Liberty County Jail following a May 18 drunken-driving arrest.
Officials said Sgt. Radford is from Jacksonville, Florida, and joined the Army in January 2018. He worked as an automated logistical specialist and had no combat deployments.
Fort Stewart went on lockdown after the gunfire erupted near the airfield and schools located on the premises. Just off base, Liberty County Schools also went into lockdown as a precaution.
By 12:40 p.m., authorities said there was no threat to the community, and an all-clear was issued about two hours later.
Fort Stewart last witnessed an on-base shooting in 2022.
Spc. Shay Wilson was charged with murder after gunning down Sgt. Nathan Hillman at their workplace. Spc. Wilson’s case is still working its way through court.
Hillman, 30, was a Pennsylvania native and a veteran of the War in Afghanistan.
• Matt Delaney can be reached at mdelaney@washingtontimes.com.
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