3 Fort Stewart Shooting Victims Released From Hospital: Officials

FORT STEWART, GA — Three Army soldiers have been released from the hospital after a sergeant at Fort Stewart Hunter Army Airfield was accused of opening fire on five coworkers Wednesday, officials say.

Secretary of the Army Dan Driscoll, Fort Stewart Senior Commander Army Brig. Gen. John Lubas and others shared an update early Thursday morning into the tragic shooting.

Lubas said while three of the five soldiers shot were released from the hospital Wednesday, a fourth female soldier is receiving inpatient care at Winn Army Community Hospital.

"She's doing well, in high spirits," he said. "Of course, she's got a little bit of a road to recovery. We're hopeful she may be released as early as this weekend, but that would just depend on how things heal up over the next couple days."

The fifth soldier, whose recovery may take longer, is being treated at Savannah Memorial Community Hospital, Lubas said.

The shooting occurred around 11 a.m. Wednesday in the 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team complex of Fort Stewart, Army officials said. A motive was unknown.

The accused gunman, 28-year-old Quornelius Radford, was being held in the Liberty County Jail, records showed Thursday.

RELATED: Fort Stewart Suspect ID'ed, Used Personal Gun To Shoot 5, Army Says

Lubas previously said the Army was awaiting charging decisions from the Office of Special Trial Counsel.

Radford is an automated logistics sergeant in a sustainment unit with the 2nd ABCT, Lubas previously said.

The Army's response to the shooting spoke to the on-base training done at Fort Stewart, but Lubas noted the base must now turn to caring for its soldiers as they process the events that took place.

"I think we train for this on the battlefield, and it's a different situation when it happens on an installation with one of your own," he said. "I think over the upcoming days and weeks, people are going to process this and work through this at different rates, and we know that we gotta keep a close eye on them. We've gotta wrap our arms around them. We've got a great community here, a great response."

Radford was arrested after six soldiers intervened, Driscoll said, noting the "heroism, courage and selfless service" of the soldiers. Driscoll added their actions saved lives on Wednesday.

They were identified in a WTOC report as First Sgt. Joshua Arnold, Master Sgt. Justin Thomas, Staff Sgt. Melissa Taylor, Staff Sgt. Robert Pacheco, Sgt. Aaron Turner and Sgt. Eve Rodarte. Driscoll honored them with medials, WTOC reported.

One of the soldiers, unarmed, tackled Radford while a second soldier jumped on top of Radford and held him until authorities arrived, Driscoll said. The remaining four soldiers used their training to tend to those who had been shot, Driscoll said.

"I and the administration of President (Donald) Trump could not be more proud of them," Driscoll said. "They are everything that is good about this nation. They are the best among us in our country. They are the best among us in the Army. They acted in a way that I think all of us hope we would under fire, but they did. We are just so incredibly proud of them. We are so grateful for them."

Lubas said there was no hesitation for the soldiers to jump into action, apply first aid and stop the bleeding.

Radford, who is from Jacksonville, Florida, was arrested in May at a traffic stop for driving under the influence, CNN reported. Lubas said the Army was not aware of Radford's previous arrest, and Radford has never been deployed.

The shooting led to a lockdown at Fort Stewart and surrounding areas, including nearby Liberty and Appling schools.

The police response included the FBI Atlanta's Savannah office and Hinesville Police.

Located about 40 miles southwest of Savannah, Fort Stewart is the largest Army post east of the Mississippi River. It’s home to thousands of soldiers assigned to the Army’s 3rd Infantry Division and family members.

ALSO SEE: Get The Latest Local News (For Free!) With One Quick Tap