A tense standoff at Fort Stewart ended peacefully Monday evening when law-enforcement officers took a barricaded man into custody alive — lifting a basewide shelter-in-place order that had jolted the community just 50 minutes earlier.
At around 5:02 p.m., Fort Stewart officials issued an urgent alert: the entire installation was under lockdown after reports of a man barricaded in a residence in the Bryan Village housing area. Residents were ordered to remain indoors and steer clear of the affected zone as military police and local law-enforcement converged on the scene.
Shortly after, authorities confirmed the shelter-in-place extended to the entire post — a reflection of the gravity of the unfolding situation.
Information from the Georgia State Patrol in Rincon revealed that shots had reportedly been fired during the standoff. A heavy presence of military police, state patrol units and local agencies descended on the Bryan Village home where the suspect was holed up.
The man has been identified as Justin Goggans. Authorities say law-enforcement repeatedly attempted to de-escalate the standoff, engaging in negotiations. Meanwhile, family members and close friends scrambled online — making impassioned appeals for Goggans to surrender peacefully.
Then, at 5:50 p.m., officials confirmed Goggans had been taken into custody alive. The immediate threat was over. The shelter-in-place order was lifted — though residents were still urged to avoid the Bryan Village area, as law enforcement processed the scene and began follow-up procedures.
For now, authorities have released no further information about injuries, charges, or the motive behind the incident. The base and local law-enforcement caution the public to stay clear of the area while the investigation continues.
