A U.S. Army sergeant opened fire on Wednesday (Aug 6), injuring five fellow soldiers with a privately owned handgun at Fort Stewart-Hunter Army Airfield near Savannah, Georgia, according to military officials. He was subdued by nearby soldiers and taken into custody. Brigadier General John Lubas, the base commander, stated that all five victims are in stable condition, although three required surgery. The base was briefly placed on lockdown, which was lifted once the suspect was arrested. Lubas noted that the surrounding community was never in danger and the motive behind the shooting remains unclear.

The suspect has been identified as 28-year-old Sergeant Quornelius Radford, an active-duty soldier specializing in automated logistics with the 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team. Radford has been stationed at Fort Stewart since 2022 and has no record of combat deployments. The incident occurred around 11 a.m. at Radford’s workplace on the base and involved members of his own unit. Lubas clarified there was no indication that the shooting was related to a training exercise, though the specific reason remains unknown. It is still unclear how Radford managed to bring the weapon onto the base.

Eyewitness soldiers quickly intervened and restrained Radford until law enforcement arrived. He was later interrogated by Army investigators and is being held as officials consider charges. Lubas mentioned that Radford had a prior DUI arrest, which was unknown to his superiors until the shooting prompted a deeper background check. At the White House, President Donald Trump addressed the situation, expressing support for the victims and their families, and condemned the suspect as "horrible."

While military bases are typically high-security environments, they have not been immune to gun violence. Notable incidents include the 2009 Fort Hood shooting that killed 13 and injured over 30, and a 2014 shooting at the same base that resulted in four deaths including the shooter. Other high-profile attacks include the 2013 Washington Navy Yard shooting and the 2019 Pensacola base shooting by a Saudi officer. Fort Stewart, located in Hinesville, Georgia—about 225 miles southeast of Atlanta—is home to roughly 9,000 residents and supports over 15,000 active-duty soldiers, along with thousands of retirees, family members, and civilian personnel.