A quiet Saturday evening on the Cape Fear River reportedly turned to chaos when a lone gunman reportedly opened fire from a boat into a popular dockside restaurant, killing three people and injuring at least eight more.
Authorities quickly detained the suspect, identified as a U.S. combat veteran who had previously spoken of his struggles with post-traumatic stress disorder.
Southport Police named the suspect as Nigel Max Edge, who is facing three counts of first-degree murder, five counts of attempted first-degree murder, and five counts of assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill. Additional charges are pending, police said.
“We believe that this was a targeted location,” Southport Police Chief Todd Coring told reporters at a press conference. “He acted in what we call a ‘lone wolf.’ He acted alone. This is highly premeditated from what we are seeing at this time and we feel that there are no other threats to our community, that we do have someone in custody.”
The shooting erupted just after 9:30 p.m. at the American Fish Company, a waterfront restaurant known for its river views. According to the Southport Police Department, a boat with a single occupant briefly paused outside the restaurant before the shooter opened fire, fatally wounding three patrons and injuring eight others.
The gunman then fled toward Oak Island. By 10:00 p.m., the U.S. Coast Guard spotted a man matching the suspect’s description at a public boat ramp and detained him without incident.
Police later revealed that the suspect, once known as Sean William DeBevoise, was a Marine Corps veteran who deployed three times after the 9/11 attacks, first to Haiti and later to Iraq. He returned home “severely wounded,” according to comments he wrote accompanying his book, Headshot: Betrayal of a Nation.
In those writings, he recalled, “The attacks on 9/11 would decide my future for me. I enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps and deployed 3 times; first to Haiti’s political turmoil, then to Iraq twice. Returning from the warzone severely wounded, my life would never be the same.”
Chief Coring confirmed that Edge had sustained injuries in combat and said investigators believe he struggled with PTSD. “An active investigation is underway,” Coring emphasized.
While details about the victims have not yet been released, at least one person remains in critical condition, authorities said.
The attack has rattled this coastal community, though officials stressed the quick response by local police and the Coast Guard prevented further harm.
For many, the episode underscores the difficult balance between honoring veterans’ service and recognizing the challenges some face when reintegrating into civilian life.
“This was highly premeditated,” Chief Coring said. “But we do feel confident that our community is safe and that the suspect is in custody.”
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