A sergeant in the US Army discharged his weapon on Wednesday (Thursday AEST) at Fort Stewart, one of the largest army bases in the southeastern United States, injuring five fellow soldiers and triggering a temporary lockdown at the facility. The shooter has been identified as 28-year-old logistics Sergeant Quornelius Radford. Initial information regarding the shooting remains sparse, and the motive behind the incident has yet to be clarified.
Brigadier-General John Lubas reported that the injured soldiers are stable and recovering, though the names of the victims will not be disclosed until their families have been notified. Lieutenant-Colonel Angel Tomko, during a press conference, affirmed that the army will not speculate on the motive behind the gunfire.
The incident occurred in the soldiers’ workplace, and other service members present acted swiftly to subdue Radford. The army is currently investigating the circumstances surrounding the shooting, including the severity of the soldiers’ injuries and any potential underlying reasons for the sergeant’s actions.
Law enforcement responded to the 2nd Armoured Brigade Combat Team complex shortly before 11am, arresting the shooter within five minutes. The lockdown at the base lasted approximately one hour, ensuring the safety of personnel on-site. Fort Stewart, located about 64 kilometres southwest of Savannah, is home to thousands of military members and their families and is designated as one of the most secure military installations.
The army has assured the community that there is no ongoing threat, and the injured soldiers were subsequently treated at the Winn Army Community Hospital. This unsettling event at a military installation raises ongoing concerns regarding safety and security within the armed forces, highlighting the need for further scrutiny into measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.