Military Court-Martial Set for Shooting Suspect

The actions of a few brave soldiers prevented a greater tragedy at Fort Stewart, Georgia, after an Army sergeant allegedly opened fire, wounding five people with a personal handgun. The incident, which unfolded on August 6, 2025, has led to severe charges, including attempted murder and domestic violence, against Sgt. Quornelius Radford. Fellow soldiers’ rapid, courageous response in disarming and restraining Radford has been credited with saving lives, while the case advances to a general court-martial scheduled for June 2026.

Story Highlights

Sgt. Quornelius Radford allegedly wounded four soldiers and his intimate partner with a personal handgun at Fort Stewart on August 6, 2025.
Fellow soldiers disarmed and restrained Radford, preventing further tragedy and earning Meritorious Service Medals.
Radford faces severe charges, including attempted murder and domestic violence, and is referred to a general court-martial with a trial set for June 2026.
Plea of not guilty entered December 19, 2025; motive remains undisclosed amid pretrial confinement.

Shooting Unfolds at Fort Stewart

On August 6, 2025, U.S. Army Sgt. Quornelius Radford, a 28-year-old supply sergeant in the 3rd Infantry Division’s 2nd Armored Brigade, allegedly opened fire with his personal handgun inside an office building at Fort Stewart, Georgia. The incident wounded four soldiers and one civilian worker, identified as his intimate partner. Radford fired at a sixth victim but missed. Gun smoke filled hallways and offices as victims suffered chest and abdomen wounds. Fellow soldiers immediately intervened, disarming and restraining him until military police arrived. This rapid response prevented fatalities and underscores the value of trained peers in military settings.

Sgt. #QuorneliusRadford has pleaded not guilty to attempted murder charges.

Authorities say Radford opened fire with a personal handgun on members of his supply unit at Fort Stewart, a sprawling Army post in Southeast Georgia.#CourtTV What do YOU think? pic.twitter.com/56zjorR1sC

— Court TV (@CourtTV) December 22, 2025

Heroic Response Honored Swiftly

Army Secretary Dan Driscoll visited Fort Stewart on August 7, 2025, awarding Meritorious Service Medals to six soldiers for their life-saving actions. These heroes staunched wounds with their hands and subdued the shooter, actions Brig. Gen. John Lubas, 3rd Infantry commander, praised as directly preventing deaths. Their discipline reflects core military values of accountability and protection under fire. Fort Stewart, the Army’s largest post east of the Mississippi, houses thousands, making such internal vigilance essential for community safety. This event highlights effective training without relying on external forces.

Initial charges filed around August 13 included six counts of attempted murder, aggravated assault, and domestic violence. Radford, who enlisted in 2018, waived his preliminary hearing in early August with Army Trial Defense Service attorneys.

Court-Martial Proceedings Advance

Prosecutors from the Army Office of Special Trial Counsel referred the case to a general court-martial on December 12, 2025, signaling the gravity of charges: two specifications of attempted premeditated murder, four of unpremeditated murder, six aggravated assaults, and domestic violence. Radford remains in pretrial confinement at a Navy brig in Charleston, South Carolina. On December 19, Col. Gregory Batdorff presided remotely from Fort Bragg, North Carolina, over a 15-minute arraignment. Radford pleaded not guilty and deferred deciding between judge or jury trial.

Col. Batdorff scheduled jury selection for June 11-12, 2026, if chosen, with the trial starting June 15. Radford’s defense team, led by Capt. Amanda Perry and Lt. Col. Dylan Mack, confirmed his understanding of rights. The charging document, released post-hearing, redacted victim names. Fort Stewart officials provided no motive details, adhering to policy.

Implications for Military Discipline

The case reinforces Uniform Code of Military Justice application to serious crimes, potentially leading to a life sentence if convicted. Short-term effects include base security reviews and trauma for the wounded supply unit members and Fort Stewart’s community of soldiers and families. Long-term, it may prompt scrutiny of personal firearms policies on base, balancing service member rights with safety. No prior incidents link to Radford, and sources confirm no fatalities. Military justice prioritizes accountability, aligning with conservative principles of order and personal responsibility in uniform.

Sources note minor reporting variances, such as initial victim counts corrected from five soldiers to four plus one civilian, but facts align across reports. Limited victim and motive details stem from policy, focusing proceedings on evidence.

Watch the report: Sergeant in custody after 5 soldiers shot at Georgia army base