A quiet Saturday night in Southport, North Carolina, turned deadly when a gunman opened fire from a boat at the American Fish Company, a waterfront bar in the Southport Yacht Basin. The shooting began around 9:30 p.m. on September 27, killing three people and injuring eight more.
Authorities say the suspect paused briefly along the Cape Fear River before unleashing gunfire into the crowded venue. The boat then fled toward Oak Island along the Intracoastal Waterway.
The Arrest
By 10:00 p.m., the U.S. Coast Guard spotted a man matching the suspect’s description at a public boat ramp on Oak Island. He was detained and transferred into police custody.
Officials have identified the suspect as Nigel Max Edge. Edge now faces three counts of first-degree murder, five counts of attempted first-degree murder, and five counts of assault with a deadly weapon. His first court appearance is scheduled for Monday at 2 p.m.
Victims and Community Impact
Authorities have not yet released the identities of the three victims, pending family notification. The conditions of the eight injured remain unknown.
Southport, a coastal city of about 4,300 residents located 30 miles south of Wilmington, is known for its calm waterfront, restaurants, and fishing community. Residents are reeling as investigators process what officials are calling one of the deadliest incidents in the town’s history.
Multi-Agency Investigation
The case is being investigated by the Southport Police Department with support from the Brunswick County Sheriff’s Office, Oak Island Police, the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation, the ATF, and the FBI.
Southport Police Chief Todd Coring reassured residents that there is no ongoing threat to the public, though additional law enforcement resources remain in place along the waterfront.
What’s Next
Edge will face his first court hearing Monday. Investigators have not publicly discussed a motive, though reports indicate federal and state officials are now digging into his background and possible online activity.
This story is still developing, and updates will be provided as more information becomes available at SteadfastAndLoyal.com.
Jimmy
h/t: Steadfast and Loyal
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