Army Sergeant Sentenced for Shooting at Fort Stewart

An Army sergeant received a life sentence on Tuesday following a shooting incident last summer that injured five individuals at a military base in Georgia.

At Fort Stewart, a military judge sentenced Sgt. Quonelius Radford, who was convicted of attempted murder in a court martial last week, to life in prison with the option for parole, as reported by local media.

Prosecutors alleged that the 29-year-old Radford deliberately targeted the leaders of a supply unit when he opened fire with a personal handgun in August. Among the injured were four fellow soldiers and his then-fiancée, Requon Smith, who shared that she followed him into Fort Stewart, concerned that he might take his own life.

Radford had previously pleaded guilty to aggravated assault and domestic violence charges in March, acknowledging his role in the shooting. However, during the attempted murder trial, he maintained that he never had the intention to kill anyone.

During the trial, witnesses recounted how Radford, serving as a supply sergeant with the 2nd Armored Brigade of the 3rd Infantry Division, entered multiple offices and a conference area while firing, ultimately injuring four soldiers. Fellow soldiers managed to restrain and disarm him before military police took him into custody.

His sentence also included a dishonorable discharge and a reduction in rank to private first class.

Prosecutors had requested life imprisonment without the possibility of parole. Meanwhile, Radford’s lawyer argued for a lighter sentence, claiming that he was experiencing a mental health crisis during the shooting and had taken responsibility for his actions.

During sentencing, one of Radford’s defense attorneys conveyed a statement in which he expressed regret to the victims, thanking them for surviving the incident and seeking their forgiveness.

Medical testimony revealed the severity of the injuries: one soldier had been shot in the face, another in the chest, and the others received bullets in their backs and abdomens.

Some victims spoke at the sentencing hearing about their ongoing physical and emotional recovery, with two of them having retired from the Army as a result of their injuries.

Radford opted for a military judge to decide his trial instead of a jury composed of fellow soldiers.