A U.S. Army sergeant who opened fire at Fort Stewart had a recent DUI arrest and legally purchased a handgun weeks before the incident—details that had not reached his military chain of command.
At a Glance
- The suspect, Sgt. Quornelius Radford, was arrested in May 2025 for DUI in Florida.
- Radford legally purchased the 9 mm handgun used in the shooting shortly after his arrest.
- He enlisted in 2018 and served as an automated logistics specialist with no combat deployments.
- His military record contained no known disciplinary actions prior to the incident.
- The shooting left five soldiers injured and triggered a joint federal-military investigation.
Legal History and Firearm Access
Records show that Sgt. Quornelius Samentrio Radford, 28, was arrested on May 6, 2025, in Duval County, Florida, for driving under the influence. The case was still pending at the time of the shooting. Despite the arrest, Radford was able to purchase a 9 mm handgun legally in Florida later that same month. There is no indication that the Army was informed of the arrest, and no administrative actions were taken before the August 6 incident at Fort Stewart.
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Military Background and Profile
Radford enlisted in the U.S. Army in January 2018 and held the rank of sergeant at the time of the shooting. He was assigned as an automated logistics specialist to the 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division. He had not deployed to any combat zones and, according to officials, had no record of prior misconduct or mental health issues on file. Fellow soldiers expressed shock at the incident, citing no visible signs of instability leading up to the event.
The Fort Stewart Incident
On the morning of August 6, 2025, Radford allegedly brought a privately owned 9 mm handgun into the brigade area and opened fire on his peers at approximately 10:56 a.m. Five soldiers were injured—three required surgery—and all are currently in stable condition. Radford was subdued by fellow soldiers before being taken into custody. No fatalities occurred. Investigators believe the weapon was brought onto the base in violation of Army regulations, but had not been previously reported.
Accountability and Next Steps
The Army Criminal Investigation Division and the FBI are jointly investigating the incident. Radford remains in pretrial confinement. A charging decision is pending with the Office of the Special Trial Counsel. Military leadership has acknowledged that Radford’s recent DUI was unknown to his command and is reviewing communication gaps between civilian law enforcement and military oversight systems. Internal audits have been initiated to determine how arrest records are flagged across jurisdictions.
Sources
Reuters
Associated Press
Al Jazeera
