Fort Stewart Shooting Suspect Quornelius Radford: Unraveling the Motive Behind the Attack

In a shocking incident that has rocked the U.S. Army base in Georgia, Sergeant Quornelius Radford opened fire on fellow soldiers at Fort Stewart-Hunter Army Airfield on Wednesday, August 6, 2025. Five soldiers were wounded in the attack, three of whom required surgery. All are currently in stable condition and expected to recover.

According to Brigadier General John Lubas, the commanding officer of the 3rd Infantry Division, the assailant was subdued and arrested by fellow service members within 39 minutes of the first shots being fired. The motive remains under investigation, but the incident has raised serious concerns about mental health, workplace conflict, and oversight within military institutions.

What is the motive behind the Fort Stewart shooting suspect Quornelius Radford’s attack?

Investigators are still piecing together the events and reasoning that led 28-year-old Sergeant Quornelius Radford to carry out the violent attack on his fellow soldiers. Assigned to the 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team at Fort Stewart, Radford had no previous record of behavioral issues during his military service. However, a recent DUI arrest in May 2025 was not reported to his chain of command, raising questions about internal communication lapses.

The suspected shooter reportedly had an altercation with one of the victims the day before the shooting. On the morning of the attack, Radford brought a personal 9mm handgun—legally purchased in Florida in May—to the base and allegedly targeted a fellow soldier in a maintenance area before opening fire on four others.

The fact that this was not a military-issued weapon and that Radford acted alone has led investigators to focus on personal grievances rather than an organized or ideological motive.

Who is Quornelius Radford? A deeper look into the Fort Stewart shooting suspect

Born in Jacksonville, Florida, Radford joined the Army in 2018. His role primarily involved logistics and warehouse operations. Though he was never deployed to a combat zone, his father, Eddie Radford, revealed to The New York Times that his son had mentioned experiencing racism at Fort Stewart and had recently been seeking a transfer.

Lubas confirmed that the shooting took place in the suspect’s workplace and involved co-workers. Despite the attack’s sudden nature, those close to Radford did not notice any alarming behavioral changes leading up to the incident.

The shooter is now in pretrial confinement as military prosecutors prepare charges. The Office of the Special Trial Counsel is expected to announce formal charges soon.

Fort Stewart: A base marred by recent tragedies

Located in Hinesville, Georgia, about 40 miles from Savannah, Fort Stewart is the largest U.S. Army base east of the Mississippi River. It houses more than 21,000 soldiers and supports over 19,000 military retirees and thousands of civilian staff.

The 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team has experienced several fatal events this year. In January, two soldiers died during a training accident. In March, four others lost their lives in Lithuania when their vehicle sank into a bog. These incidents add to the growing scrutiny on safety and mental health within the brigade.

Why it matters: Military shootings and mass violence trends

The Fort Stewart incident marks one of the latest internal acts of gun violence within the U.S. military. According to the nonprofit Gun Violence Archive, the U.S. has experienced 262 mass shootings so far in 2025. While this is a decline from previous years, the persistence of such attacks—even within secured military installations—underscores a deeper issue that demands attention.

Radford’s actions have sparked renewed debates around mental health support for soldiers, better monitoring of off-duty conduct, and the effectiveness of existing safety protocols on military bases.

What’s next for the investigation?

As authorities prepare formal charges, a thorough review of Radford’s military file, psychological profile, and personal life is underway. The Army is also conducting an internal audit of communication gaps that may have failed to flag early warning signs, such as the unreported DUI.

Meanwhile, Fort Stewart remains on high alert. Soldiers, families, and staff are receiving support, including counseling and additional security briefings. Army leadership has pledged transparency and accountability as the case unfolds.

This tragic event has opened a larger conversation around how military leadership can proactively prevent similar acts of violence and better care for the psychological well-being of service members.

You Must Know:

Who is Quornelius Radford?
Quornelius Radford is a 28-year-old U.S. Army sergeant accused of shooting five fellow soldiers at Fort Stewart. He worked in supply operations and had no prior combat deployment.

What was the motive behind the Fort Stewart shooting?
Authorities believe the motive could be linked to a workplace dispute. The suspect had a disagreement with one victim and brought a personal firearm onto the base the next day.

Where did the Fort Stewart shooting take place?
The attack occurred at the 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team’s maintenance area within Fort Stewart, located in Hinesville, Georgia.

What weapon was used in the Fort Stewart shooting?
The shooter used a personally owned 9mm handgun, which was legally purchased in Florida in May 2025.

Are the Fort Stewart shooting victims recovering?
Yes. All five victims were hospitalized and are currently in stable condition, with three undergoing surgery.

Is this part of a larger trend of military base shootings?
While rare, military base shootings have occurred before and are prompting calls for better mental health support and weapon policy reviews.