SAVANNAH, Ga. (AP) — Five soldiers were shot on Wednesday at the Army’s Fort Stewart in Georgia, the base said in a social media post.
THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. AP’s earlier story follows below.
SAVANNAH, Ga. (AP) — Parts of the Fort Stewart in southeast Georgia were locked down Wednesday after an active shooter was reported on the sprawling Army post, a spokesperson said.
Fort Stewart said in a Facebook post that “casualties have been reported and the situation is ongoing.” It’s unclear whether casualties include injuries, deaths or both.
“We are currently assessing the situation but we can confirm an active shooter,” Lt. Col. Angel Tomko said.
A post on Fort Stewart’s Facebook page told all personnel in the locked down area to “stay inside, close and lock all windows and doors.”
Located about 40 miles (64 kilometers) southwest of Savannah, Fort Stewart is the largest Army post east of the Mississippi River. It’s home to thousands of soldiers assigned to the Army’s 3rd Infantry Division and family members.
“Due to the lockdown status all gates on Fort Stewart are currently closed,” the fort said on social media.
The shooter was in the area of the 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, the fort said online.
The fort’s three elementary schools are also on lockdown, Community Superintendent Brian Perry told WTOC-TV. The schools have nearly 1,400 students, according to the Department of Defense.
Three schools just outside the base are taking steps similar to a lockdown “out of an abundance of caution,” the Liberty County School System said online.
Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp is in contact with responding law enforcement, he said in a statement. U.S. Rep. Buddy Carter, whose district includes Fort Stewart, said in an online post that he’s monitoring the shooting.
