06-08-2025
Five soldiers shot at Army base in Georgia, suspect apprehended
ATLANTA – Five soldiers were shot Wednesday in an active shooter incident at Fort Stewart, an Army base in south Georgia, according to Maj. Charlie Egan, a 3rd Infantry Division spokesperson. Egan said the shooter has been apprehended.
The injured soldiers were "treated on-site and moved to Winn Army Community Hospital for further treatment," installation officials said in a post to the base's official Facebook page. The post did not specify their status.
The shooting occurred shortly before 11 a.m. Wednesday in an area of the south Georgia installation associated with the 3rd Infantry Division's 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, a tank unit that returned from a deployment in Europe in the summer of 2024.
The entirety of the fort was locked down shortly thereafter, and the shooter was apprehended at 11:35 a.m., according to the post. Fort Stewart lifted the lockdown for much of the base shortly after midday, and declared the post "all clear" just before 2 p.m. Eastern.
Multiple law enforcement agencies, including the Hinesville Police Department, joined the Army in responding to the incident. The FBI also said it is responding to the scene at Fort Stewart and will provide resources or investigative support as requested, FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino said.
Both President Donald Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth have been briefed on the shooting and are monitoring the situation, according to a statement from White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt and one from Sean Parnell, a Defense spokesman.
Wednesday's shooting is the second in recent years to occur in the 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team's workspace. In December 2022, a fellow soldier shot and killed Sgt. Nathan Hillman in the unit's building complex.
Here's what we know so far about the incident.
Schools in lockdown amid Fort Stewart shooting
Schools placed on lockdown amid Fort Stewart shooting; most have been lifted
Multiple schools in and around Fort Stewart went into temporary lockdowns as the shooting unfolded at the sprawling military base.
Three schools serving the children of military personnel at Fort Stewart went on lockdown Wednesday morning, according to a Department of Defense Education Activity alert. During the lockdown, no one could enter or leave the schools, though teaching continued, the alert said. Around 12:30 p.m. Eastern, the lockdown was lifted.
In Liberty County, where most of the base is located, two elementary schools and a middle school went into a soft lockdown 'out of an abundance of caution,' the district said in a statement on social media. It was the students' first day back in school after summer break.
In Appling County, over 20 miles from Fort Stewart, all of the county's schools were placed under a level 1 lockdown before it was lifted around 1 p.m., the school system said on social media.
– Christopher Cann
Lawmakers call for prayers
Georgia lawmakers said they were praying for the soldiers and their families in posts to social media.
'Please join me in prayers for the casualties, their families, and the brave law enforcement officers working to protect our community,' said Rep. Buddy Carter, a Republican who represents the district that includes Fort Stewart.
Rep. Mike Collins, another Georgia Republican, also asked for prayers for soldiers and first responders.
'I'm heartbroken to see the news of an active shooter incident at Fort Stewart today,' said Georgia Sen. Raphael Warnock, a Democrat. 'I'm monitoring the situation closely and join all of Georgia as we pray for the safety of our servicemembers, staff, and their families.'
– Jeanine Santucci
What is Fort Stewart?
The U.S. Army's Fort Stewart is a sprawling military installation in southeast Georgia that covers 438 square miles, an area larger than New York City that includes an array of training and housing facilities.
The base is home to the Army's 3rd Infantry Division, and about 10,000 people live there, including active duty troops, family members and civilian employees, according to the U.S. Department of Defense.
The base's history traces back to 1940 when it opened as an anti-aircraft training facility. Over the decades, it has steadily grown in size and population. Today, it serves thousands of active duty military, family members, students, retirees, contractors and civilian employees.
– Christopher Cann
This is a developing story and will be updated.
