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CNN
07-08-2025
- CNN
They were unarmed but ready for battle. How these soldiers helped stop a shooter at Fort Stewart
Crime Gun violenceFacebookTweetLink Follow EDITOR'S NOTE: Keep up with the latest developments on this story here. Staff Sgt. Melissa Taylor was checking her email Wednesday when she heard a colleague yelling about gunshots at Fort Stewart military base in Georgia, prompting her to peer into the hallway outside her office. 'I saw the smoke at the end of the hallway,' she said. 'And I noticed there was a soldier laying on the ground.' At that moment, Taylor – who served as a combat medic for seven years – sprang into action: 'I immediately sprinted over to the soldier and started rendering aid. He had been shot.' On the other side of the building, one of Taylor's colleagues had opened fire, authorities say – wounding five at the military base outside of Savannah before being subdued by unarmed fellow soldiers who did not hesitate to tackle the suspect, halting Wednesday's shooting. Taylor was among six soldiers honored Thursday by US Army Secretary Dan Driscoll, who awarded them the Meritorious Service Medal for their actions. Their bravery, the secretary said, stopped a shooting that could have been much more severe. 'Under duress and fire, they ran into battle to the sound of the gunfire, took down the assailant, and then took care of their comrades,' Driscoll said. 'And that made all the difference.' In the meantime, investigators continue to probe the shooting – and the alleged motive of the 28-year-old active-duty sergeant who authorities say pulled out a personal handgun and opened fire at the base. Authorities did not offer substantial new details Thursday about the suspect – identified as Sgt. Quornelius Samentrio Radford – saying they would not speculate about his motives. Radford remains in custody and will likely be transferred to a military detention center, said Ryan O'Connor, Army Criminal Investigation Division (CID) Special Agent in Charge. Two soldiers – both women – remained hospitalized as of Thursday morning, according to Brig. Gen. John Lubas, the commander of the 3rd Infantry Division. 'One soldier remains as an in-patient at Winn Army (Community Hospital) right here on Fort Stewart. She's doing very well, in high spirits,' Lubas said. 'Of course, she's got a little bit of a road to recovery. We're hopeful she may be released as early as this weekend but that will just depend on how things heal up over the next couple of days.' The other soldier, however, has a 'little bit longer road to recovery,' Lubas said. 'The doctors are very positive, but I think it's going to take her a bit longer to recover.' The shooting was the latest example of the epidemic of gun violence plaguing the United States, showing even a US military installation filled with soldiers is not immune: Wednesday's incident is among at least 262 mass shootings in the US so far this year, according to the Gun Violence Archive. CNN and the GVA define a mass shooting as one that injured or killed four or more people, not including the shooter. The soldiers on Wednesday handled the scene like a 'battle drill,' said Lt. Col. Mike Sanford, the commander of the 703rd Brigade Support Battalion, praising their work. 'They went into action and did what they needed to do,' Sanford said. 'Whether it's here or overseas or we're in combat – they did the right thing.' On Wednesday, Lubas said Radford's alleged motive was not known. But a law enforcement official briefed on the case told CNN Radford had a disagreement with one of the victims on Tuesday. He followed that coworker to a maintenance area and shot him in the chest before shooting four others. That's when Lubas said other soldiers 'prevented further casualties' by tackling Radford, allowing police to arrest him. It's unclear what the disagreement was about. Law enforcement responded at 10:56 a.m. ET, according to a Facebook post from Fort Stewart Hunter Army Airfield. Less than 10 minutes later, the base was locked down. Emergency personnel were sent to treat the victims at 11:09 a.m., the post said. Radford joined the Army in 2018 as an automated logistical specialist and was assigned to the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, the US Army said. His role involved handling supplies and warehouse operations. Radford had not deployed to a combat zone and had no known behavioral incidents on his military record, Lubas said. However, the general acknowledged Radford was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence in May. Radford's chain of command was unaware of the arrest prior to Wednesday's shooting, Lubas said. Radford was out on bond and scheduled to be arraigned on August 20. The suspect's father, Eddie Radford, had not noticed unusual behavior by his son recently, he told The New York Times. He did not know what might have motivated the shooting, but said his son had complained about racism at Fort Stewart and had been seeking a transfer. The Times did not publish more specifics. Fort Stewart declined to comment on the racism allegation and whether Radford had requested a transfer. 'The circumstances that led to the events today are currently under investigation,' a spokesperson for the 3rd Infantry Division told CNN. The suspect used a personal handgun in Wednesday's attack, Lubas said Wednesday. The weapon is a 9mm Glock the suspect bought in Florida in May, according to the law enforcement official. The gun was recovered at the scene along with numerous shell casings, the official said. Authorities are unsure how Radford got the gun through the base's high security before carrying out the shooting at his place of work. Carrying personal firearms on base is typically prohibited by military regulations. Radford has been interviewed by the Army Criminal Investigation Division and remains in pretrial confinement as he waits for a charging decision by the Office of the Special Trial Counsel, Lubas said Wednesday. The suspect will be tried by the Army Office of Special Trial Counsel, according to a military official – an office akin to a US Attorney's Office. The OSTC is reviewing the evidence and in the process of drawing up charges. Once that's done, the suspect is expected to be court-martialed, the military official said. That would be comparable to a trial. It is, however, a 'completely different justice system' than a civilian would face, CNN analyst Ret. Gen. Ty Seidule told CNN Wednesday. Radford, Seidule said, would be subject to the Uniform Code of Military Justice, under which the military has its own judges and prosecuting counsels. Soldiers accused of the most serious crimes may face a court-martial. If convicted of a serious crime, Radford could be imprisoned at a military prison, Seidule said. President Donald Trump on Wednesday vowed the suspect would be 'prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.' Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth similarly said in a post on X, 'Swift justice will be brought to the perpetrator and anyone else found to be involved.' This is a developing story and will be updated. CNN's Danya Gainor contributed to this report.
Axios
07-08-2025
- Axios
What we know about Fort Stewart shooting that injured 5 soldiers
An Army sergeant is in custody after a shooting at Fort Stewart military base in Georgia that injured five soldiers on Wednesday, officials said. The big picture: It's believed the suspect used a personal handgun and "not a military weapon" to open fire at the base that briefly went on lockdown, said Brig Gen. John Lubas, the commanding general of the 3rd Infantry Division, at a Wednesday afternoon briefing. The wounded soldiers were hospitalized and three underwent surgery, but Lubas said all were stable and expected to recover. Officials named the suspect as Sgt. Quornelius Radford, 28. What happened at Fort Stewart Law enforcement was "dispatched to a possible shooting" at Fort Stewart, some 40 miles southwest of Savannah, at 10:56am Wednesday local time, per a Fort Stewart Hunter Army Airfield Facebook post. The "shooter was apprehended" at 11:35am, according to the post. The base and several Liberty County schools went on lockdown after the shooting report, but these were lifted after the suspect was taken into custody. What to know about the suspect Radford is an automated logistics sergeant assigned to the 2nd Brigade Combat Team who's never been deployed, according to Lubas. He's been interviewed by the Army Criminal Investigation Division and is now in pretrial confinement, Lubas said. What to know about the investigation Lubas said he wouldn't "speculate as to any intentions, motives or back stories, given that this is an ongoing investigation." The FBI was at Fort Stewart and would "provide any requested resources and/or investigative support," Deputy Director Dan Bongino said on X. The FBI's Savannah office is coordinating with the Army Criminal Investigation Division in response to the incident, the bureau's Atlanta office said on its social media accounts. What to know about Fort Stewart The base just outside of Hinesville is the largest Army installation east of the Mississippi River, covering about 280,000 acres over parts of six counties, and home to the 3rd Infantry Division. Two armored brigade combat teams there are involved with Transforming in Contact, meant to quickly arm soldiers and test commercially available equipment, per Axios' Colin Demarest. Soldiers there have been experimenting with robotics to clear battlefield obstacles, aerial drones to make first contact with an enemy, and tools to better understand and leverage the electromagnetic spectrum that's key to communications and weapons guidance. The base has experienced several tragedies in the past year. Two soldiers were killed in a single-vehicle crash while training in January near Fort Stewart and four soldiers from the base died while training in Lithuania. What they're saying: President Trump told reporters the Army Criminal Investigation Division would "ensure that the perpetrator of this atrocity" will be "prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law." He added, "The entire nation is praying for the victims and their families and hopefully they'll fully recover, and we can put this chapter behind. But we're not going to forget what happened. We're going to take very good care of this person that did this — horrible person."
Time of India
06-08-2025
- Time of India
Who is Army Sergeant Quornelius Radford, the Fort Stewart shooter?
Fort Stewart shooter has been identified as Army Sergeant Quornelius Radford. The gunman who opened fire at the Fort Stewart Base in Georgia Wednesday morning has been identified as a 28--year-old army sergeant Quornelius Samentrio Radford, an automated logistic sergeant assigned to the second brigade combat team. All five soldiers were stable while Quornelius Radford was taken into custody, The incident was not related to any training event and the reason why he opened fire is not known. Brigadier General John Lubas, a third infantry commanding general, told reporters that Radford had not been previously deployed, but was stationed at Fort Stewart. 'Sergeant Radford has been interviewed by the Army Criminal Investigation Division and is currently in pre-trial confinement awaiting a charging decision by the Office of the Special Trial Counsel,' said Lubas. Some social media posts tied the shooter to Florida and claimed that he is a registered Democrat. Lubas said the shooting was done with a personal handgun. Radford was taken into custody at about 11:35 a.m., according to a statement from the base. The base, located in the southeast region of the state, was alerted to an active shooter situation just before 11 a.m. on Wednesday. The base gave the 'all-clear' just before 2 p.m. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Hilarious And Awkward Family Photos, Check It Out Here Undo Wednesday. CNN published a booking photo of Quornelius Radford when he was arrested for driving under the influence in May. He was booked into the Liberty County Jail in Georgia. As part of their investigation into the Army sergeant accused of shooting five fellow soldiers at Fort Stewart this morning, military investigators will try to determine how the suspect was able to bring a personal weapon onto the base. 'We're going to have to determine how he was able to get a handgun to his place of duty,' said Brig. Gen. John Lubas, commander of the 3rd Infantry Division and Fort Stewart-Hunter Army Airfield. Despite the shooting, Lubas said he is 'very confident in the security of this installation.'
American Military News
10-06-2025
- American Military News
2 men accused of neo-Nazi affiliation and possession of military weapons at Lacey home
A Thurston County judge set bail at $500,000 Tuesday for two Lacey men accused of being white nationalist extremists and hoarding weapons. The Sheriff's Office arrested the two men after federal law enforcement executed a search warrant at a home on the 3000 block of Puget Meadow Loop Northeast, just east of Willamette Drive, in Lacey. Law enforcement seized more than 35 firearms from the home, including short-barrel rifles, machine guns, handguns and a short-barrel shotgun, according to court records. They also seized various other weapons, explosives and equipment, some of which were restricted Army-issued munitions. Officers reported these items were stored alongside Nazi flags and paraphernalia. Aside from the firearms, law enforcement say they found grenade launchers, flash bang or stun grenades, blasting caps, body armor, ballistic helmets, night vision goggles, hundreds of magazines and thousands of rounds of ammunition. Following the search, the Sheriff's Office booked the two men into the county jail on suspicion of unlawful possession of a short-barreled rifle and unlawful possession of explosives without a license. On Tuesday, Sheriff Derek Sanders posted about the investigation on Facebook and shared photos of the equipment and Nazi imagery found within the home. Sanders said his office assisted the Army Criminal Investigation Division with the investigation and a Federal Bureau of Investigation SWAT team executed the warrant. The Army CID sought to search the home after determining the two men were involved in a 'violent robbery and theft of military weaponry/armor,' Sanders said. 'Fantastic work by Army CID and our SWAT Commander to get these items recovered swiftly,' Sanders said in his post. Court records indicate the alleged robbery and theft occurred at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, and law enforcement believe the two men are actively involved in the 'White Nationalist Socialist Movement (Nazi).' Sanders said the two men will likely face additional federal charges once the Army CID investigation is completed. Thurston County Judge John Skinder set bail at $500,000 for each of the men, who were identified as Charles Ethan Fields, 26, and Levi Austin Frakes, 27. He did so after finding probable cause for possession, manufacture or disposal of an incendiary device, multiple counts of unlawful possession of a short-barreled rifle, and unlawful possession of a machine gun. In setting their release conditions, Skinder determined the court could not be reasonably assured the men would return to court when required, there exists a substantial danger they may commit a violent crime, and they may seek to interfere with the case. Skinder also ordered them to not own or control weapons or firearms as well as to undergo electronic home monitoring with a GPS device if they are released from jail. The investigation A probable cause statement describes the investigation into the two men from the perspective of law enforcement. On Monday, an Army CID agent asked Sheriff's Lt. Sean Chatterton, the county's SWAT Team Commander, to be their liaison for a search of a Lacey residence. The agent informed Chatterton that the Army CID obtained a search warrant from Thurston County Superior Court that stemmed from an investigation into a robbery and assault that occurred at JBLM. The two men allegedly entered into the Ranger Regiment area of the base to steal body armor, helmets and military equipment. A soldier confronted the two men and a 'physical fight broke out,' according to the statement. One of the men allegedly struck the soldier in the head with a hammer, causing a significant head injury. The soldier continued to fight and one of the men pulled out a knife. The fight ended and the two men fled the scene. As they left, one of the men dropped a hat with the name 'Fields' on it. The Army CID identified the two men as Charles Ethan Fields and Levi Austin Frakes with the help of video and gate entrance records. Fields and Frakes reportedly had access to JBLM because they are military veterans. The FBI SWAT Team served the search warrant for the Lacey home, and both Fields and Frakes were detained at the scene. Once the scene was secure, Chatterton walked through the home and saw various weapons, explosives and equipment as well as Nazi paraphernalia. Photos shared by Sanders show Nazi and SS flags as well as a framed photos, one of Adolf Hitler and another of an eagle statue with a Nazi swastika. An Army explosive ordinance disposal specialist responded to the scene and verified that the blasting caps, flag bangs and smoke grenades were restricted Army issued munitions. The Army took possession of the restricted munitions and the Army CID collected all evidence for the case. Based on the search and investigation, the statement says Chatterton believes the two men 'pose an extreme danger to the community.' ___ © 2025 The Olympian Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
American Military News
05-06-2025
- American Military News
Pics: US vets arrested, charged for secret arsenal with Nazi memorabilia after ‘violent robbery'
Two U.S. veterans were arrested on Monday after Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) agents executed a search warrant and discovered a massive arsenal of weapons, military gear, $24,000 in cash, and Nazi memorabilia at a house in Lacey, Washington. According to a criminal complaint obtained by The Associated Press, FBI officials arrested U.S. veterans Charles Ethan Fields and Levi Austin Frakes on Monday night. The outlet cited Army Criminal Investigation Division Special Agent Christopher J. Raguse, who claimed that one of the suspects admitted the two U.S. veterans had been stealing military equipment from Joint Base Lewis-McChord for two years and selling or trading the equipment. The Associated Press reported that both Fields and Frakes have been charged with theft of government property, robbery, and assault after recently attacking a soldier at the base with a hammer during an alleged robbery. According to the outlet, the veterans are also facing investigation for the unlawful possession of a machine gun, short-barreled rifles, and incendiary devices. The criminal complaint obtained by The Associated Press said that FBI agents 'observed numerous Nazi/white supremacy memorabilia, murals, and literature in every bedroom and near several stockpiles of weapons and military equipment' during the execution of Monday's search warrant. READ MORE: China targeting US military members for spy operations, fmr. CIA chief warns In a Tuesday post on Facebook, Thurston County Sheriff Derek Sanders wrote, 'Yesterday, Army CID reached out to TCSO for assistance with the execution of a warrant on an address in the City of Lacey as a result of a violent robbery and theft of military weaponry/armor. The suspects identified in this case were actively involved in Nazi White Nationalist efforts.' 'An FBI SWAT team executed the warrant, which resulted in the seizure of short barrel rifles, an MG42 machine gun, grenade launchers, explosives, body armor, ammunition, and ballistic helmets surrounded by Nazi paraphernalia,' Sanders added. 'Multiple rifles were staged at windows throughout the residence.' Pictures of the military weapons and Nazi memorabilia discovered at the Lacey home were shared on X, formerly Twitter. BREAKING: TCSO AND ARMY CID EXECUTE SEARCH WARRANT ON WHITE NATIONALIST EXTREMISTS; 35 FIREARMS, GR*NADE LAUNCHERS, AND EXPL0SIVES SEIZED IN LACEY, WASHINGTON. According to Sheriff Sanders of Thurston County, on June 2, 2025, Army Criminal Investigation Division (CID) contacted… — Sarah Fields (@SarahisCensored) June 4, 2025 According to The Associated Press, Fields and Frakes were discovered with U.S. Army equipment at Joint Base Lewis-McChord's Army Ranger compound on Sunday night by an unidentified soldier who questioned the two veterans and asked them to remove their masks. The outlet noted that the veterans engaged in a fight with the soldier and that one of the suspects used a hammer to strike the soldier on the head. The Associated Press reported that the soldier let the two suspects go after one of the veterans pulled out a knife during the fight. Law enforcement officials claimed that the two suspects left most of the military equipment behind after initially attempting to steal roughly $14,000 worth of ballistic helmets, body armor, and communications equipment.
