The U.S. Army Office of Special Trial Counsel (OSTC) has confirmed the sentencing of an Army sergeant involved in a shooting incident at Fort Stewart, Georgia. Sgt. Quornelius S. Radford, 29, has received six consecutive life sentences for attempting to kill five soldiers and his fiancé in a shooting spree last August.
Convicted by a military judge, Radford faces a reduction in rank to E-1, loss of pay and allowances, and a dishonorable discharge from the Army. He will serve his sentence at the U.S. Disciplinary Barracks in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.
Maj. Matthew Fields, a prosecutor with the OSTC, emphasized the significance of trust within military units, noting, “Sgt. Radford turned his weapon on his own unit, shooting fellow Soldiers, including members of his leadership, shattering the trust that is essential to every military organization.”
Radford’s actions followed an argument with his fiancé, who believed him to be suicidal. The fiancé pursued Radford to the base, trying to calm him in the parking lot when Radford began his attack. He first shot his fiancé before entering the unit’s offices and shooting four additional soldiers, missing a fifth.
Fellow soldiers quickly subdued Radford, preventing further violence. They immediately applied first aid to the injured before emergency medical services arrived. The actions of these soldiers likely prevented more casualties, according to Brig. Gen. John Lubas, who commended their prompt response.
Despite their survival, the victims of the attack experienced profound trauma, which they recounted during the trial. All expressed that Radford merited the maximum sentence.
Reports revealed that Radford, an automated logistics sergeant since 2018 from Jacksonville, Florida, had no prior disciplinary issues except for a concealed DUI arrest earlier in the year.
Radford’s case underscores the Army’s commitment to maintaining the safety and security of its service members, as highlighted by Army CID special agent Ryan O’Connor.