Sgt. Quornelius Radford, accused of opening fire inside his supply unit at Fort Stewart last August and wounding five co-workers, is now locked in for a general court-martial starting June 15, 2026. The case moved into high gear after a March hearing where Radford admitted guilt on some charges while fighting attempted-murder specifications, putting the southeast Georgia post under a long, uncomfortable spotlight as military prosecutors gear up for trial.
A military judge scheduled the June 15 trial date after Radford changed his plea on selected counts, according to the Houston Chronicle. The judge accepted guilty pleas to aggravated assault and a domestic violence charge and kept the remaining attempted-murder specifications on track for a full trial. Defense attorneys had previously signaled that Radford intended to plead guilty to some of those attempted-murder specifications before reversing course.
Prosecutors say Radford brought a personal handgun to work on Aug. 6, 2025, and opened fire inside the headquarters of his supply unit at Fort Stewart, injuring four soldiers and a civilian worker, then firing at a sixth person, according to reporting by the Associated Press. Fellow soldiers rushed in, tackled Radford and held him until military police arrived, the outlet reported.
What Radford Told The Court
At a March 31 hearing, Radford told a military judge he did not intend to kill anyone and said he had been suicidal, explaining that he had hoped a confrontation with military police would end his life, according to WJCL. Multiple victims, some speaking from hospital beds, delivered statements that mixed forgiveness with firm calls to keep Radford confined, the station reported.
How The Army Is Prosecuting
The Army’s independent prosecutors have referred the case to a general court-martial, the venue reserved for the military’s most serious offenses, according to Stars and Stripes. The Office of Special Trial Counsel, created by the Army to handle covered offenses, is prosecuting the case and has authority to refer charges and enter plea agreements on behalf of the government, per the Army Office of Special Trial Counsel.
Victims And The Unit's Response
Commanders and community leaders have praised the soldiers who stepped in to subdue Radford and render aid. Army Secretary Dan Driscoll visited Fort Stewart the day after the shooting and took part in recognizing those service members, the Associated Press reported. The wounded include four soldiers and a civilian described by prosecutors as Radford’s intimate partner, and several victims later appeared at the March hearing to describe their recovery and press for accountability.
Legal Stakes
Attempted-murder specifications carry a maximum sentence of life in prison under military law, WJCL notes. Prosecutors have said they have not negotiated a plea deal, which means a judge could still impose a life term if Radford’s guilty pleas on the remaining counts are ultimately accepted, according to The Washington Post.
The judge’s decision to send the case to a general court-martial now fixes the Fort Stewart shooting on a firm timeline: pretrial motions and hearings will continue in the coming weeks, with the trial itself scheduled to begin June 15, 2026, the Houston Chronicle reports. The proceedings are expected to test both how the Army responds to internal violence and how far military sentencing can go in workplace shootings on a major installation.
