Army Sergeant Seeks to Change Plea in Fort Stewart Shooting Case
The tense atmosphere at Fort Stewart, Georgia, has taken a new turn as an Army sergeant involved in a shooting incident last summer shifts his legal strategy. Sgt. Quornelius Radford, charged with opening fire on his colleagues, is now looking to plead guilty to several charges, potentially altering the judicial outcome of a highly scrutinized case.
Last August, Sgt. Radford, 28, allegedly used a personal firearm to shoot five individuals, including four soldiers and a civilian worker who was reportedly his romantic partner, at the base. The incident ended when bystanders managed to disarm and restrain him, as detailed by Army prosecutors. Among the charges Radford initially faced were six counts of attempted murder and aggravated assault, along with a domestic violence charge, after firing at a total of six targets.
In a recent development, Radford has expressed a desire to plead guilty to a reduced set of charges, which include two counts of attempted murder, three counts of aggravated assault, and one count of domestic violence, as per the Army’s Office of Special Trial Counsel. This comes after his initial plea of not guilty to all 13 charges last fall.
The Army’s online court docket reflects this change in plea status, with an upcoming court hearing scheduled for March 31, where a military judge will consider Radford’s new plea. Notably, there has been no plea deal negotiated, meaning Radford could still face a life sentence if convicted, according to Army prosecutors.
The motive behind Radford’s actions remains unclear, and he has been in pretrial confinement since his arrest. Fort Stewart, the largest Army post east of the Mississippi River, houses the 3rd Infantry Division, where Radford served as a supply sergeant in the division’s 2nd Armored Brigade since enlisting in 2018. The violent episode unfolded when soldiers responded to gunfire, finding victims amidst gun smoke in a building’s hallways.
Brig. Gen. John Lubas commended the swift actions of soldiers who administered first aid to the wounded, often using their bare hands to control bleeding. Recognizing the bravery displayed during the incident, Army Secretary Dan Driscoll awarded Meritorious Service Medals to six soldiers involved in restraining the gunman and assisting victims.
