FORT STEWART — The fast actions of a handful of soldiers likely prevented others from getting hurt or killed in a mass shooting incident Wednesday morning, Army leaders said Thursday.
Five soldiers of the 3rd Infantry Division’s 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team were wounded when a gunman — a fellow soldier — opened fire on base. Three of the wounded have since been released from the hospital.
Fort Stewart, located in southeast Georgia near Hinesville, is about 55 miles south of Effingham County.
Soldiers subdued gunman
Other soldiers subdued the suspected gunman until law enforcement arrived. The suspect has been identified as Sgt. Quornelius Radford, 28. Authorities allege Radford used his own handgun to shoot other soldiers.
“They ran to the sound of the gunfire, took down the assailant and then took care of their comrades,” said Secretary of the Army Dan Driscoll, who also visited with the soldiers who were shot and their families. “They tackled somebody, an armed person, who was actively shooting their fellow soldiers.”
Driscoll awarded six soldiers with the Meritorious Service Medal in a ceremony in front of the brigade headquarters. First Sgt. Joshua Arnold was recognized for providing immediate aid, stopping the bleeding of a wounded soldier. Staff Sgt. Melissa Taylor, who works in the 703rd Brigade Support Battalion’s retention office and is a former medic, secured the area for emergency services and ensured the wounded were taken to the hospital.
Staff Sgt. Robert Pacheco and Sgt. Eve Rodarte, each a combat medic, rendered aid to wounded soldiers. Sgt. Aaron Turner restrained the shooter until law enforcement arrived. Master Sgt. Justin Thomas assisted Turner in subduing the gunman.
“It is a day that could have gone much worse if not for you and your colleagues,” Driscoll told the soldiers. “The heroism shown under fire is something we should all aspire to show.”
Turner had previously served overseas in the Middle East with the 11th Air Defense Artillery Brigade before being assigned to Fort Stewart. He said his background as an infantryman and his training played a role in his quick reaction.
“My training ended up kicking in,” he said.
Investigation underway
One soldier remains hospitalized at Winn Army Community Hospital and is expected to be released soon. Another is recovering at Memorial Health University Center in Savannah.
“The fast actions of these soldiers under stress absolutely saved lives from being lost,” Driscoll said.
The Army is not releasing the names of the wounded. The Army Criminal Investigation Division (CID) is investigating the shooting and how a firearm was brought onto the base — a violation of military policy, according to CID special agent in charge Ryan O’Connor.
“We do not want something like this to happen again on an Army base,” Driscoll said.
Driscoll praised the swift response from both military and civilian emergency personnel. A first call was issued at 10:56 a.m., and a lockdown was ordered by 11:04. By 11:09, emergency responders were dispatched, and by 11:35 the shooter was in custody, said Brig. Gen. John Lubas, commanding general of the 3rd Infantry Division.
Lubas credited the quick response to the post’s preparedness and training.
Driscoll urged soldiers who may be struggling emotionally in the aftermath to seek mental health support.
“These kinds of moments, the trauma from them often doesn’t hit for weeks and months,” he said.
Radford, who had previously been cited for DUI in April, remains in custody at Liberty County Jail pending transfer to a federal facility. He has not yet been formally charged.
