The Army soldier accused of firing at five colleagues sent a chilling message just before the incident and had been concealing a criminal past from his supervisors.
More unsettling information is coming to light about Army Sergeant Quornelius Radford after he allegedly commenced the shooting at Fort Stewart in southeast Georgia on Wednesday.
The 28-year-old is in custody, and the victims are expected to be OK, but three of them needed emergency surgery.
After he was named as the suspect, military officials said that he had no known behavioral incidents since he enlisted in 2018.
However, arrest records surfaced that showed he was cuffed and accused of driving under the influence on May 18, 2025.
Brigadier General John Lubas stated that Radford’s arrest record was “unbeknownst to his commanders until the incident transpired, prompting us to examine law enforcement records,” he mentioned during a briefing.
Radford paid out a bond and was scheduled to be arraigned on August 20, but his chain of command hadn’t been notified.
Radford, who is from Jacksonville, Florida, was serving as an automated logistics sergeant when he was arrested.
According to the US Army website, soldiers working on this team maintain equipment records and oversee warehouse functions.
Though a clear reason for the attack has not been identified, the suspect’s father, Eddie Radford, revealed in an interview with the New York Times that his son was seeking a transfer to another base.
The dad said that Radford, who is Black, had complained about racism at Fort Stewart, where he had served for several years.
In the hours leading up to the shooting, the alleged gunman texted his aunt, expressing, “that he loved everyone, and that he would be in a better place soon because he was about to do something,” as relayed by his father.
Despite the complaints, Eddie said that he was shocked to hear of the arrest and that he hadn’t noticed any differences in his son.
“It’s hard for me to process,” said the heartbroken father.
DISTURBING CRIME
The gun rampage started at around 11 am at the 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team and prompted a brief lockdown.
Disturbing audio captured a dispatcher urgently calling for help after getting reports of a shooting.
“There are possibly five patients. They have both of their EMS trucks on scene, the dispatcher said.
Radford was taken into custody at 11:35 am after a brave soldier at the base tackled him to the ground “without hesitation,” Lubas said.
“That allowed law enforcement to then take him into custody.”
The soldier who stopped the shooting wasn’t harmed.
Lubas said Radford used a personal handgun he purchased in May, and that they’re investigating how he got the firearm past security.
Normally, soldiers aren’t allowed to bring their personal weapons on the base.
Fort Stewart shooting timeline
Five soldiers were shot at Fort Stewart Hunter Army Airfield in southeast Georgia on Wednesday. Below is a timeline of events:
10:56 am – Police are called for a possible shooting in the 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team area.
11:04 am – Fort Stewart is locked down.
11:09 am – EMS is dispatched to treat wounded soldiers.
11:35 am – The shooter is taken into custody.
12:10 pm – Lockdown is lifted of the main cantonment area.
Source: Fort Stewart Hunter Army Airfield
‘INCREDIBLY PROUD’
Fort Stewart is about 40 miles southwest of Savannah and is the largest Army post east of the Mississippi River.
Over 15,000 soldiers and family members live in the facility.
On Thursday, Vice President JD Vance, a former Marine, praised “the heroic soldier who confronted the assailant and protected lives,” expressing his utmost pride.
“We are incredibly blessed to have men like these, who respond quickly in moments of violence and chaos. They are the reason civilization exists in the first place.
“My prayers go out to the victims of this shooting. Join me in praying for their fast recovery!”
