The video above and the article below can be viewed ad-free at www.thesaltysoldieruncensored.com
FORT STEWART, Ga. — The Army has officially identified the soldiers who acted heroically to stop an active shooter on Fort Stewart and provided an update on the condition of the five wounded service members.
On the morning of August 6th, Sgt. Quornelius Samentrio Radford, an automated logistical specialist assigned to the 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, allegedly opened fire with a personal handgun inside his unit’s area of operations. The attack wounded five fellow soldiers—his coworkers—before he was stopped by a group of unarmed soldiers who sprang into action.
At a press briefing Thursday, Secretary of the Army Daniel Driscoll commended the extraordinary bravery displayed by the responding soldiers, calling their actions “heroic” and stating that they “absolutely saved lives.”
Unarmed and Under Fire
According to the Army and eyewitness accounts, it was Sgt. Aaron Turner of Farmington, New Mexico, who was the first to tackle the shooter. Despite being unarmed and knowing the shooter was actively firing on fellow soldiers, Turner ran toward Radford and physically brought him down.
“Just think about this,” Secretary Driscoll said. “They were unarmed and ran at and tackled an armed person who they knew was actively shooting their buddies, their colleagues, their fellow soldiers.”
Master Sgt. Justin Thomas of Kingwood, Texas, joined Turner in restraining the gunman, working in tandem to prevent further violence. Another soldier jumped on top of Radford to help subdue him until law enforcement arrived.
Brig. Gen. John Lubas, commanding general of the 3rd Infantry Division, confirmed that Radford used a personally owned handgun, which is prohibited on base. Officials said how he brought the weapon to work remains under investigation.
Immediate Medical Response
As the shooter was restrained, several other soldiers rushed to aid the wounded.
The Army credited the following personnel with delivering life-saving medical treatment under pressure:
- 1st Sgt. Joshua Arnold, who rendered aid to multiple victims despite being unsure if the threat was neutralized.
- Staff Sgt. Melissa Taylor, a seasoned medic and mother of three, who sprinted toward an injured soldier and applied direct pressure to a life-threatening wound.
- Sgt. Eve Rodarte
- Staff Sgt. Robert Pacheco
According to Gen. Lubas, surgeons confirmed that the quick actions of these soldiers directly contributed to saving lives.
“I just did what I knew I was supposed to do,” Taylor said in an interview with ABC News. “There wasn’t any time to be scared.”
Update on the Victims
As of Thursday:
- Three of the five wounded soldiers were released from the hospital on Wednesday.
- A fourth, a female soldier recovering at Winn Army Community Hospital, is reportedly in high spirits and may be released this weekend.
- The fifth, also a woman, remains hospitalized at Savannah Memorial Community Hospital. She has a “longer road” to recovery, but doctors are optimistic about a full recovery.
“I’m glad that my battle buddies, and my friends, are safe and they’re alive,” said 1st Sgt. Arnold. “I’ll see their faces soon.”
Shooter in Custody, Motive Still Unclear
Radford, 28, is currently in custody and being held pending charges. A motive has not been confirmed, but Brig. Gen. Lubas stated that all five victims were Radford’s coworkers and the shooting occurred at his workplace, not during a training exercise.
Another responding soldier, Sgt. Aaron Turner, told ABC News that Radford mentioned he wasn’t targeting random soldiers but was “dealing with leadership.” Despite this, all indications are that the victims were his peers.
Radford had no combat deployments and had previously been arrested for DUI—an incident that was not known to his chain of command until after the shooting, according to Lubas.
As the investigation continues, the Army is emphasizing the extraordinary courage displayed by the soldiers who intervened without hesitation.
“The fast action of these soldiers under stress, under trauma, and under fire absolutely saved lives from being lost,” Driscoll said.
© 2025 The Salty Soldier. All rights reserved.
Reproduction without written consent is strictly prohibited.
