Five soldiers shot at Fort Stewart Army base in Georgia: Suspect identified as Army sergeant
Five soldiers have been shot after a gunman opened fire at Fort Stewart in Georgia, sending the sprawling military base into sudden lockdown.
The base, home to thousands of soldiers assigned to the Armyโs 3rd Infantry Division, was locked down following reports of an โactive shooterโ just after 11 a.m. Wednesday. The wounded were taken to a hospital in Savannah, Georgia. There has been no update on their conditions.
Officials announced that the suspect, a male soldier, has been apprehended and taken into custody around half an hour later, though a motive for the shocking attack is still unknown. The name of the suspect has not been released.
โFive Soldiers were shot today in an active shooter incident in the 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team area,โ an update on the baseโs official social media read. All Soldiers were treated on-site and moved to Winn Army Community Hospital for further treatment.
โThere is no active threat to the community.โ
The statement added that law enforcement was dispatched for a possible shooting in the 2nd ABCT complex at just before 11 a.m with the suspected shooter apprehended around a half hour later at 11:35 a.m.
Emergency medical personnel were dispatched to treat the wounded Soldiers at 11:09 a.m. Fort Stewart said that the incident remains under investigation, with no additional information released until the investigation is complete.
Anxious family members flooded the comment sections of official base social media posts, praying that their sons, daughters and siblings were safe. One user, said that his son, daughter-in-law and grand-daughter were all onsite as the incident unfolded, though later reported that they were all unharmed.
Following the initial reports of a shooter, those residing on the base were ordered the stay inside, close and lock all windows and doors, and report to the appropriate leadership. The lockdown order extended to the Wright and Evans Army Airfield.
Footage shared online on TikTok by a resident of the base showed soldiers running out of the barracks and round the side of a building to take cover.
Located about 40 miles southwest of Savannah, Fort Stewart is the largest Army base east of the Mississippi River, with the site stretching about 39 miles across from east to west, and 19 miles from north to south.
FBI Atlanta confirmed that agents from its Savannah office were aware of the situation and was coordinating with the Army Criminal Investigation Division.
President Donald Trump has also been briefed on the incident, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt wrote on X.
โWe are keeping the victims, their families, and all those who answer the call to serve in our hearts and prayers, and we ask that Georgians everywhere do the same.โ
Congressman Buddy Carter, who represents Georgiaโs 1st District, said he too was monitoring the situation.
โPlease join me in prayers for the casualties, their families, and the brave law enforcement officers working to protect our community,โ Carter wrote on X.
Nearby schools were also placed into light lockdown following the news, including those in the Appling County School System. โOut of an abundance of caution and in alignment with our commitment to student and staff safety, all Appling County Schools are currently in a Level 1 lockdown,โ officials said.
The school lockdown was lifted shortly after the suspect was apprehended.
