Five soldiers were shot at on Wednesday at Fort Stewart, a major US Army base in southeast Georgia, before the suspected shooter was arrested by military authorities. The Army confirmed that the shooter is now in custody and that there is no ongoing threat to the public. Parts of the sprawling installation, located about 64 km southwest of state capital Savannah, were placed on lockdown during the incident. A post on Fort Stewart’s official Facebook page had earlier urged all personnel in the affected areas to “stay inside, close and lock all windows and doors.” The shooting occurred in the vicinity of the 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, according to a statement from the base. Fort Stewart is home to thousands of troops assigned to the 3rd Infantry Division, as well as their families. As a precaution, the base’s three elementary schools—serving nearly 1,400 students—were also placed on lockdown, said Community Superintendent Brian Perry. Three other schools outside the base implemented similar safety measures “out of an abundance of caution,” the Liberty County School System announced online. Georgia Governor Brian Kemp said he is in contact with law enforcement authorities responding to the incident. US Representative Buddy Carter, who represents the district that includes Fort Stewart, said he is closely monitoring developments. Military officials have not yet released the identity of the shooter or details about the condition of the wounded soldiers. The investigation is ongoing. (With inputs from AP)
