An active shooter incident at Fort Stewart in Georgia on Wednesday morning resulted in five soldiers being shot and prompted a base-wide lockdown. A suspect was taken into custody shortly after the event, and officials have stated there is no longer an active threat to the community.
The incident began on the morning of August 6, 2025. According to official statements from Fort Stewart Hunter Army Airfield, the installation was placed on lockdown at 11:04 a.m. EDT after gunfire erupted. The shooting occurred within the 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team area. Law enforcement was immediately dispatched to the scene. By 11:35 a.m. EDT, a suspect had been apprehended, according to reports from NBC News.
Base officials confirmed that five soldiers sustained injuries in the attack. They received initial treatment on-site before being transported to the Winn Army Community Hospital for further care. The condition of the injured soldiers has not been publicly released. The identity of the suspect and a potential motive for the shooting are currently under investigation and have not been disclosed by authorities.
In response to the incident, all gates to Fort Stewart were temporarily closed. While the broader lockdown has since been lifted, the 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team area remains restricted as the investigation continues. The lockdown also affected nearby communities, with several local school systems implementing precautionary measures. The Liberty County School System placed Button Gwinnett Elementary, Joseph Martin Elementary, and Snelson Golden Middle School on a “soft lockdown,” while the Appling County School System initiated a Level 1 lockdown for all its schools, as reported by FOX 5 Atlanta. The three elementary schools located on the base were also secured but were expected to dismiss students at their normal time.
The investigation is a multi-agency effort. The FBI’s Savannah office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) are on-site, coordinating with the Army’s Criminal Investigation Division, CNN reported.
The incident drew immediate reactions from state and national leaders. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed that President Donald Trump had been briefed on the situation. Georgia Governor Brian Kemp expressed his condolences on social media, stating, “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.”
U.S. Senator Raphael Warnock of Georgia called the news “heartbreaking” and said he was closely monitoring the situation. U.S. Representative Buddy Carter, whose district includes the base, also confirmed he was monitoring the events as they unfolded.
Fort Stewart, located approximately 40 miles southwest of Savannah, is the largest U.S. Army installation east of the Mississippi River, covering about 280,000 acres. It is home to the Army’s 3rd Infantry Division and serves as a critical training and deployment center for armored forces. The base supports a large community of active-duty soldiers, their families, civilian employees, and military retirees.
