ATLANTA – Five soldiers were shot Wednesday in an active shooter incident at Fort Stewart, an Army base in south Georgia, according to Maj. Charlie Egan, a 3rd Infantry Division spokesperson. Egan said the shooter has been apprehended.
The injured soldiers were “treated on-site and moved to Winn Army Community Hospital for further treatment,” installation officials said in a post to the base’s official Facebook page. The post did not specify their status.
The shooting occurred shortly before 11 a.m. Wednesday in an area of the south Georgia installation associated with the 3rd Infantry Division’s 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, a tank unit that returned from a deployment in Europe in the summer of 2024.
The entirety of the fort was locked down shortly thereafter, and the shooter was apprehended at 11:35 a.m., according to the post. The portion of the base belonging to the 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team (ABCT) remained on lockdown as of 12:30 p.m. Eastern, according to an installation Facebook post..
Multiple law enforcement agencies, including the Hinesville Police Department, joined the Army in responding to the incident.
President Donald Trump has been briefed on the shooting and the White House is monitoring the situation, press secretary Karoline Leavitt said.
Wednesday’s shooting is the second in recent years to occur in the 2nd ABCT’s workspace. In December 2022, a fellow soldier shot and killed Sgt. Nathan Hillman in the unit’s building complex.
Here’s what we know so far about the incident.
Schools in lockdown amid Fort Stewart shooting
Multiple schools in Liberty County, where a portion of the sprawling Fort Stewart base is located, went on lockdown as a shooting unfolded at the military instillation.
The Liberty County School System said in a statement on social media that two elementary schools and a middle school went into soft lockdown “out of an abundance of caution.”
“We are continuing to work closely with law enforcement to ensure the safety of our students and staff,” the statement said. It was students’ first day back in school after summer break.
– Christopher Cann
Lawmakers call for prayers
Georgia lawmakers said they were praying for the soldiers and their families in posts to social media.
“Please join me in prayers for the casualties, their families, and the brave law enforcement officers working to protect our community,” said Rep. Buddy Carter, a Republican who represents the district that includes Fort Stewart.
Rep. Mike Collins, another Georgia Republican, also asked for prayers for soldiers and first responders.
“I’m heartbroken to see the news of an active shooter incident at Fort Stewart today,” said Georgia Sen. Raphael Warnock, a Democrat. “I’m monitoring the situation closely and join all of Georgia as we pray for the safety of our servicemembers, staff, and their families.”
– Jeanine Santucci
What is Fort Stewart?
The U.S. Army’s Fort Stewart is a sprawling military installation in southeast Georgia that covers 438 square miles, an area larger than New York City that includes an array of training and housing facilities.
The base is home to the Army’s 3rd Infantry Division, and about 10,000 people live there, including active duty troops, family members and civilian employees, according to the U.S. Department of Defense.
The base’s history traces back to 1940 when it opened as an anti-aircraft training facility. Over the decades, it has steadily grown in size and population. Today, it serves thousands of active duty military, family members, students, retirees, contractors and civilian employees.
– Christopher Cann
This is a developing story and will be updated.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 5 soldiers shot at Fort Stewart Army base in Georgia, suspect apprehended
