WASHINGTON: Five soldiers were shot and wounded on Wednesday at Fort Stewart, a major US Army base in the state of Georgia, after a gunman opened fire within the premises. The base was temporarily locked down as emergency services responded to the incident.
The shooting occurred in the area of the 2nd Armoured Brigade Combat Team at around 11:04 a.m. local time, according to a statement on Fort Stewart’s official Facebook page.
“Five soldiers were shot today in an active shooter incident… All soldiers were treated on-site and moved to Winn Army Community Hospital for further treatment. There is no active threat to the community,” the post confirmed.
The base, located approximately 40 miles (64 kilometres) south-west of Savannah, is home to the US Army’s 3rd Infantry Division and thousands of military personnel and their families. It is the largest Army post east of the Mississippi River.
Parts of Fort Stewart were placed under lockdown as a precautionary measure, with a post on social media instructing personnel to “stay inside, close and lock all windows and doors”.
The lockdown extended to the fort’s three elementary schools, which serve nearly 1,400 students, according to Community Superintendent Brian Perry.
Several nearby schools outside the base also adopted precautionary lockdown procedures, the Liberty County School System confirmed.
ÚLTIMA HORA | Tiroteo activo obliga a cerrar una base del Ejército de EEUU en Georgia.
“Víctimas se han reportado y la situación es persistente”, indicó el equipo de Fort Stewart Hunter Army Airfield https://t.co/4cqqFySEV6 pic.twitter.com/hIYt1NOtK3
— AlbertoRodNews (@AlbertoRodNews) August 6, 2025
The shooter was taken into custody shortly after the incident, although no further details about the suspect have yet been released. The US Army has not indicated a possible motive and investigations are ongoing.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said that US President Donald Trump had been briefed on the incident at Fort Stewart.
“The President has been briefed on the shooting at Fort Stewart in Georgia. The White House is monitoring the situation,” she stated in a post on X.
The President has been briefed on the shooting at Fort Stewart in Georgia. The White House is monitoring the situation.
— Karoline Leavitt (@PressSec) August 6, 2025
Local news outlet WTOC-TV initially reported that four individuals had been hospitalised and that authorities were aware of the suspect’s identity.
Georgia Governor Brian Kemp said in a statement on X (formerly Twitter) that he was in contact with law enforcement.
As we remain in close contact with law enforcement on the ground, Marty, the girls, and I are saddened by today’s tragedy at Ft. Stewart. We 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…
— Governor Brian P. Kemp (@GovKemp) August 6, 2025
“As we remain in close contact with law enforcement on the ground, Marty, the girls, and I are saddened by today’s tragedy at Fort Stewart. We 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,” he stated.
