Fort Stewart Soldiers Hailed as Heroes After Shooting/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Six soldiers are being praised for stopping an active shooter who wounded five troops at Georgia’s Fort Stewart. The suspect, Sgt. Quornelius Radford, was disarmed and subdued by fellow soldiers before law enforcement arrived. Military leaders say their bravery saved lives and prevented further bloodshed.
Fort Stewart Shooting: Quick Looks
- Armed soldier opened fire at Fort Stewart, injuring five
- Six unarmed soldiers tackled and subdued the gunman
- Military officials say the heroic actions saved lives
- Suspect Sgt. Quornelius Radford arrested without further incident
- Three of the injured underwent surgery, all are stable
- Incident highlights ongoing concerns about base security
- Radford had prior DUI charges, but no deployment history
- FBI and Army leadership are leading the investigation
- Fort Stewart is the largest Army post east of the Mississippi
- Past shootings at U.S. bases raise safety alarm again
Deep Look
Soldiers Stop Fort Stewart Shooting, Hailed as Heroes in Rapid Response
FORT STEWART, Ga. — A group of six U.S. soldiers at Fort Stewart are being credited with averting a potentially devastating mass shooting after swiftly tackling and subduing a fellow soldier who opened fire on base, wounding five others on Wednesday.
Sgt. Quornelius Radford, 28, was arrested after allegedly firing multiple rounds from a personal handgun in an area where he worked. The violence occurred at one of the nation’s largest military installations, just southwest of Savannah, Georgia. According to military officials, the quick response by unarmed soldiers not only stopped the shooting but likely saved lives.
“The fast action of these soldiers under stress and under trauma and under fire absolutely saved lives from being lost,” said Army Secretary Dan Driscoll during a Thursday news briefing.
Driscoll described the scene as one of chaos and courage. “One of the soldiers tackled the person, so just think about this — they were unarmed and ran at and tackled an armed person who they knew was actively shooting their buddies, their colleagues, their fellow soldiers,” he said. Another soldier, he added, jumped on the gunman to restrain him until law enforcement arrived.
Injuries and Arrest
The five injured soldiers were transported to a nearby hospital, where three underwent surgery. All are expected to recover, Brigadier General John Lubas confirmed. Lubas, who commands the Army’s 3rd Infantry Division, emphasized the importance of the soldiers’ actions in preventing a more tragic outcome.
Authorities said Radford opened fire shortly before 11 a.m. at the 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team complex. He was subdued and arrested by 11:35 a.m., following a brief lockdown of the facility. Officials have not publicly discussed a motive, and Radford’s military record indicates no deployment history since he enlisted in January 2018 as a supply sergeant.
Court records show Radford had a pending DUI charge from May 2025 in nearby Hinesville, where he was cited for running a red light in the early morning hours. He was released on bond, and the case was scheduled for a hearing later this month. His traffic attorney, Sneh Patel, said he is not representing Radford in the shooting case and declined to comment further.
Base Security Under Scrutiny
The incident has reignited concerns over the security and safety protocols at U.S. military installations, which are expected to be among the most secure locations in the country. Despite increased access controls and on-base regulations, insider threats remain a critical issue.
“This is another painful reminder that we still have work to do to ensure the safety of our service members, even on U.S. soil,” one Army official said privately.
The FBI has joined the investigation, according to Deputy Director Dan Bongino, who confirmed that federal agents are working alongside Army investigators to piece together Radford’s actions and potential motivations.
President Donald Trump weighed in during comments at the White House, calling Radford a “horrible person” and praising the heroism displayed by the soldiers who intervened.
History of Violence on U.S. Military Bases
The Fort Stewart shooting is the latest in a series of violent incidents on American military installations in recent years. The most deadly remains the 2009 Fort Hood shooting in Texas, where an Army psychiatrist killed 13 and wounded over 30 others.
Additional incidents include:
- 2013: A defense contractor killed 12 at the Washington Navy Yard
- 2014: Another Fort Hood shooting left three dead and 13 wounded
- 2019: A Saudi aviation student opened fire at Naval Air Station Pensacola, killing three
- 2019 (same week): A U.S. Navy sailor fatally shot two at Pearl Harbor before taking his own life
These events have triggered numerous investigations and policy revisions but have not completely eliminated internal security threats.
Fort Stewart’s Strategic Role
Spanning over 280,000 acres, Fort Stewart is the largest Army post east of the Mississippi River by land area. It is home to thousands of service members and families, primarily attached to the Army’s 3rd Infantry Division. The base also houses the 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, known as the “Spartan Brigade,” recognized for its role as one of the Army’s most advanced combat units.
The base resumed normal operations shortly after the lockdown was lifted. However, military and federal officials are expected to evaluate whether further security enhancements are needed in light of the attack.
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