Five military personnel were injured at Fort Stewart, a Georgia Army base, following a reported active shooter incident that led to a lockdown of the expansive facility on Wednesday. The injured soldiers received immediate medical attention on site before being transferred to Winn Army Community Hospital, as per a midday update from the base.
The lockdown was initiated at 11:04 a.m., affecting areas such as Wright and Evans Army Airfield and the Fort Stewart Schools. Base officials advised those present to stay indoors and secure all windows and doors. Law enforcement officers on the scene identified a suspect, whose identity has not been disclosed.
The base later confirmed that there was no ongoing threat to the community. The incident led to the hospitalization of at least five soldiers. The coastal Georgia military post had earlier confirmed the presence of an active shooter.
Three schools on the base, namely Kessler Elementary School, Murray Elementary School, and Diamond Elementary School, were also placed on lockdown as a precautionary measure. Superintendent Brian Perry confirmed this in a statement, assuring that there was no immediate threat to the schools.
Georgia Governor Brian Kemp expressed his sorrow over the incident at Fort Stewart, assuring that his administration was in close contact with law enforcement personnel at the scene. He urged all Georgians to keep the victims, their families, and all service members in their thoughts and prayers.
Fort Stewart is the largest U.S. Army installation east of the Mississippi River, spanning approximately 280,000 acres in southeast Georgia. It serves as the home base for the 3rd Infantry Division and is a training area for several other military units. The base is home to over 10,000 soldiers, Army civilian employees, and their families.