A former public safety director at Fort Stewart, Georgia, highlighted the effectiveness of emergency response and weapons safety protocols in preventing further casualties after a shooting incident that wounded five soldiers. Army Sgt. Quornelius Radford, 28, is charged with shooting five fellow service members with a personal handgun, though officials stated the victims are expected to recover. Ret. Army Col. Mike Bumgarner noted that military police would have arrived within minutes and described the FBI-style protocols that soldiers are trained to follow, which likely contributed to the suspect’s apprehension. Bumgarner emphasized that if there were warning signs of the suspect’s distress, protocols would have prompted leadership to remove weapons from his possession.
Bumgarner also explained that soldiers living in barracks cannot store weapons in their rooms, but those in on-post family housing or off-post are allowed to keep personal firearms, provided they are registered with the fort’s provost marshal. He noted that if leadership suspects a service member’s instability, the normal protocol is to ask the soldier to turn in their weapons for safekeeping. If the soldier declines, a commander would typically step in and order the weapons to be confiscated.
During a news conference after the shooting, Army officials mentioned that Radford did not have any prior disciplinary or behavioral issues. However, court records in Liberty County, Georgia, show he was arrested on May 18 and charged with driving under the influence and failure to obey traffic control devices. These charges were unknown to his chain of command. Bumgarner expressed concern that something went wrong in the chain of command, adding that chaplains are very active in the Army, and the chain of command is attentive to any issues. He emphasized that if the chaplain or first sergeant noticed something, they would try to get the individual to seek help, but something fell through the cracks in this case.
Bumgarner stated that the Army’s Criminal Investigation Division (CID), which is leading the investigation with possible FBI support, is likely examining which weapons were registered and collecting interviews from involved parties. Commanders will also look for any links to terrorism, fanaticism, or a larger issue involving multiple individuals. Other investigators will focus on the crime itself, preserving the crime scene, collecting evidence, and talking to associates who may have noticed something unusual. He described the incident as exceptionally rare, noting that the Army is very tight-knit and shocked by the event.
Bumgarner added that there is no quick fix for long-term weapon misuse prevention. He recalled that after 9/11, the military conducted thorough vehicle checks and described the process as demanding on all parties involved. He noted that the military is a microcosm of society, respecting Second Amendment rights, and there is no simple solution to preventing such incidents.
As the investigation continues, officials are focused on understanding the circumstances that led to the shooting and implementing measures to ensure such an event does not occur again. The Army is conducting a thorough examination of the incident, including the suspect’s background and the circumstances surrounding the shooting, to identify any gaps in the system that may have contributed to this tragedy.