FORT STEWART, Ga. — An Army supply sergeant accused of opening fire on his own unit at Fort Stewart last summer appeared Friday before a military judge as his case formally moved forward under the Army’s most serious level of court-martial.
Sgt. Quornelius Radford, 28, was arraigned on December 19 at Fort Stewart following the referral of his case to a general court-martial. Radford faces six counts of attempted murder under Article 80 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice, multiple assault charges under Article 128, and a domestic violence offense tied to one of the victims.
According to Army prosecutors, the charges stem from a shooting that occurred on August 6 inside an office building used by Radford’s unit. Officials allege Radford entered the facility armed with a personal handgun and opened fire on members of his supply unit, striking four soldiers and a civilian employee. A sixth count of attempted murder was added for a shot fired at an individual who was not struck.
The civilian victim was later identified by Army prosecutors as Radford’s “intimate partner,” leading to the additional domestic violence charge. The Army has not publicly released the names of the victims and has declined to comment on the motive behind the attack.
Radford’s case is being handled by the 2nd Judicial Circuit under the Fort Stewart General Court-Martial Convening Authority. If convicted, he faces the possibility of life imprisonment under military law.
The shooting occurred at Fort Stewart, the largest Army installation east of the Mississippi River and home to the 3rd Infantry Division. Radford was assigned as a supply sergeant with the division’s 2nd Armored Brigade at the time of the attack. Army records show he enlisted in 2018.
Witnesses told investigators that soldiers inside the building ran toward the sound of gunfire, encountering smoke-filled hallways and wounded personnel. Several soldiers rendered immediate first aid using belts and direct pressure to stop bleeding until military police arrived and Radford was restrained.
Brig. Gen. John Lubas, commander of the 3rd Infantry Division, later credited those soldiers with saving lives through their rapid response. Army Secretary Dan Driscoll visited Fort Stewart the following day and awarded Meritorious Service Medals to six soldiers who helped disarm the gunman and treat the wounded.
Radford has remained in pretrial confinement since the shooting and is currently being held at a Navy brig in Charleston, South Carolina. His defense counsel has declined to comment publicly on the case.
Previous reporting has indicated that Radford was allegedly involved in a same-sex romantic relationship with one of the victims wounded in the attack. Court records show that the victim finalized a divorce from his wife on August 5 — just one day before the August 6 shooting at Fort Stewart. Army prosecutors have said the domestic violence charge was added because one of the victims was Radford’s intimate partner.
Additional court and law enforcement records show Radford was also dealing with unrelated legal issues earlier in the year. In May, he was arrested for driving under the influence by the Georgia State Patrol in Liberty County. During that traffic stop, Radford reportedly referred to the same individual later identified as a shooting victim as his “husband” when asked who could take custody of his vehicle. At the time, the individual was still legally married, with divorce proceedings ongoing.
Army officials have not stated whether those personal and legal stressors contributed to the shooting, and Fort Stewart leadership has declined to comment on what, if any, warning signs may have been present prior to the attack.
The Army has not confirmed whether those circumstances played any role in the attack.
As the case proceeds, the shooting continues to weigh heavily on soldiers stationed at Fort Stewart, underscoring ongoing concerns about internal threats, workplace stressors, and the warning signs that can precede acts of violence within military units.
The Salty Soldier will continue to monitor the court-martial proceedings and report developments as they become available.
© 2025 The Salty Soldier. All rights reserved. Reproduction without written consent is strictly prohibited.
