Judge Sentences Sgt. Quornelius Radford to Life With Parole for Fort Stewart Shootings

A military judge at Fort Stewart sentenced Sgt. Quornelius Radford to life in prison with the possibility of parole on Tuesday for shootings last August that wounded five people at the Georgia base, New York Post reported. Radford, 29, a supply sergeant in the 3rd Infantry Division’s 2nd Armored Brigade, was convicted of attempted murder following a court-martial last week.

He had pleaded guilty in March to aggravated assault and domestic violence but maintained he never intended to kill anyone. Army prosecutors said Radford targeted leaders of his supply unit when he opened fire with a personal handgun. He shot four soldiers while moving through two offices and a conference room before fellow soldiers restrained him; military police then took him into custody.

His then-fiance, Raekwon Smith, was also wounded after following Radford onto the base out of concern he might be suicidal. A doctor at the Army hospital on Fort Stewart testified that one victim was shot in the face and another in the chest, with other bullets striking victims in the back and abdomen. Two of the injured soldiers have since left the Army.

Radford’s sentence also includes a dishonorable discharge and reduction in rank to private. Prosecutors had sought life without parole, while the defense argued the shootings occurred during a mental health crisis and that Radford had accepted responsibility. Radford chose to have the case decided by a judge rather than a jury of soldiers.