"Sergeant who wounded five colleagues had endured years of bullying over speech impediment, former co-workers say"
By Staff Reporter | Somerset-Pulaski Advocate
Image courtesy of the US Army. All Rights Reserved
FORT STEWART, Ga. — An Army sergeant accused of shooting five colleagues at a Georgia military base Wednesday had endured persistent bullying over his stutter since joining the service, former co-workers said.
Sgt. Quornelius Radford, 28, opened fire with a personal handgun at Fort Stewart shortly before 11 a.m., wounding five soldiers before being tackled and subdued by fellow troops, Army officials said. All victims are in stable condition and expected to recover.
The shooting stunned former colleagues who described Radford as hardworking and playful, showing no signs of anger or deeper issues despite facing harassment during training.
"He got bullied a lot," said Sgt. Cameron Barrett, 28, who served with Radford during Advanced Individual Training at Fort Lee, Virginia, in 2018. "It was very bad to the point where he could barely talk."
Barrett said soldiers would mock Radford by pretending to stutter, calling the speech impediment a "trigger" that Radford endured by remaining silent.
Recent Struggles
Despite his reserved demeanor, those who knew Radford said he displayed a goofier, more playful side with friends. QuaSondra Cobb, a former supervisor, recalled racing Radford to eat candy during lunch breaks.
"My interactions with him were always like that," Cobb said. "He was a hard worker. If he had any issues, he would come to me, ask for advice. I just didn't see that coming."
However, recent social media posts suggested Radford was struggling. On January 28, he wrote about losing a loved one in a car crash, describing how he "cried and drank to make that pain feeling go away."
Radford's father told The New York Times his son had been trying to transfer from Fort Stewart due to experiencing racism. Eddie Radford said his son texted a relative Wednesday morning expressing love for everyone and saying "he'll be in a better place because he was about to go and do something."
Investigation Continues
Radford, an automated logistics specialist with the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, used a personal handgun in the attack, officials said. Three victims were released from hospitals on Wednesday, while two women remained hospitalized on Thursday.
Army officials have not disclosed whether the victims were Radford's subordinates or superiors. The motive remains unclear as the investigation continues.
The incident marks another workplace shooting at a U.S. military installation, raising questions about mental health support and harassment prevention in the armed forces.
Staff writer contributed to this report.
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