FORT STEWART, Ga.
An Army sergeant was sentenced to life in a navy jail Tuesday for shootings final summer time that wounded five people at a base in Georgia.
A navy decide at Fort Stewart sentenced Sgt. Quornelius Radford to life with a chance of parole, native information shops reported, after a court-martial final week by which the soldier was convicted of attempted murder.
Army prosecutors accused Radford, 29, of focusing on leaders of his provide unit when he opened hearth with a private handgun final August. He wounded 4 fellow troopers and his then-fiance, Raekwon Smith, who testified he was shot after following Radford onto Fort Stewart fearing the soldier was suicidal.
Radford admitted to finishing up the shootings in March when he pleaded guilty to fees of aggravated assault and home violence. But he insisted he by no means meant to kill anybody as Army prosecutors pressed forward with attempting Radford on fees of tried homicide.
Trial witnesses described how Radford, a provide sergeant within the third Infantry Division’s 2nd Armored Brigade, walked to 2 workplaces and a convention room as he shot 4 troopers. He was apprehended by navy police after being restrained and disarmed by fellow troopers.
Radford’s sentence additionally included a dishonorable discharge and a discount in rank to personal.
Army prosecutors had requested the decide to sentence Radford to life with out parole. The soldier’s protection attorneys sought a lighter sentence, arguing that the shootings occurred whereas Radford was having a psychological well being disaster and that he has accepted accountability for his actions.
One of the protection legal professionals learn a press release from Radford by which he apologized to every of the victims, stated he was grateful they survived and requested forgiveness.
During Radford’s trial, a physician from the Army hospital on Fort Stewart testified that one of many injured troopers was shot within the face and one other within the chest, whereas bullets caught different victims within the again and stomach.
Victims testified throughout Radford’s sentencing listening to that they’re nonetheless recovering, bodily and emotionally. Two of them have left the Army.
Radford opted for his trial to be determined by a navy decide moderately than a jury of troopers.