Published Jun 24, 2026, 10:44 AM EDT
Sgt. Quornelius Radford was found guilty last Thursday, saying he "wish he could go back" and not shoot anyone.
A U.S. Army sergeant has been sentenced to six consecutive life sentences after using a handgun last summer to shoot five people at Fort Stewart. Sgt. Quornelius Radford, 29, learned his fate on Tuesday when Judge Col. Gregory Batdorff convicted him of six specifications—two specifications of attempted premeditated murder, and four specifications of attempted unpremeditated murder—after shooting at six people and hitting five on Aug. 6, 2025, at Fort Stewart in Georgia, causing injuries but no deaths, according to the U.S. Army Office of Special Trial Counsel. Radford, originally from Jacksonvile, Fla., is an automated logistics sergeant assigned to A Company, 703rd Brigade Support Battalion, 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division. According to authorities, Radford admitted to last summer's shooting when initially interviewed by agents with the Department of the Army Criminal Investigation Division. He's since remained in pretrial confinement at the Naval Consolidated Brig Charleston located at Joint Base Charleston, S.C. “Today’s life sentence reflects the profound betrayal at the heart of this case," Maj. Matthew Fields, prosecutor, Second Circuit, Army Office of Special Trial Counsel, said Tuesday in a statement. "Soldiers are trained to face danger from the enemy, not from those standing beside them in formation. "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. His actions left victims with devastating physical injuries, emotional trauma and scars that will endure for a lifetime." Radford's sentence includes the possibility of parole, a dishonorable discharge, and he will forfeit all pay and allowances. His rank will be reduced to E-1. Four of the life sentences, for specifications of attempted unpremeditated murder, were considered category 5 offenses that can carry sentences of 20 to 40 years—meaning he received sentences harsher than typical sentencing parameters. Batdorff said he went higher than those parameters due to the “physical, mental and emotional injuries” suffered by those attacked, in addition to the “damage to the mission” that occurred afterwards, according to local NBC affiliate WSAV. Radford was also reportedly sentenced to 120 months each for all six specifications of aggravated assault and one specification of domestic violence, the high end of the sentencing parameters set for a Category 3 offense.
