North Carolina Mass Shooting Leaves Community in Shock as Veteran Suspect Arrested
In a tragic incident that has stunned the coastal community of Southport, North Carolina, a mass shooting on Saturday evening claimed three lives and left five others injured. Authorities have identified 40-year-old Nigel Max Edge as the suspect and have taken him into custody on multiple charges including first-degree murder. The attack adds to the alarming tally of 321 mass shootings recorded in the United States so far this year, according to the Gun Violence Archive, a nonprofit organization tracking gun violence incidents.
The shooting unfolded around 9:30 PM at the American Fish Company restaurant in Southport when a lone boater briefly stopped near the establishment and opened fire before fleeing the scene via the Intracoastal Waterway toward Oak Island. Southport Police Chief Todd Coring described the attack as “highly premeditated” and suggested the location was specifically targeted. Using an assault rifle, the suspect acted alone in carrying out the violence that has devastated the tight-knit community. Within an hour of the shooting, the U.S. Coast Guard located an individual matching the suspect’s description at a public boat ramp in Oak Island, approximately 20 miles from the South Carolina border, leading to Edge’s arrest.
Edge’s background reveals a complex history that includes military service and potential mental health challenges. During a Sunday press conference, Chief Coring stated that the suspect identifies as a combat veteran who was injured while serving and suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Public records and local authorities indicate that Edge had previously changed his name from Sean DeBevoise and had minor encounters with law enforcement over the years, though officials emphasized that nothing in his past suggested he was capable of such violence. The Oak Island Police Department confirmed they were familiar with Edge as a resident but had no reason to anticipate the horrific attack he allegedly perpetrated.
Further investigation into Edge’s background uncovered that he was featured in a 2017 story in the Wilmington Star-News, which identified him as a former Marine sniper who had been wounded while serving in Iraq in 2006. In a self-published 2020 book titled “Headshot: Betrayal of a Nation (Truth Hurts),” DeBevoise claimed he had been hit by “friendly fire” during his service, sustaining four bullets including one to the head, an experience he described as causing “the most crippling mental damage.” The book’s description suggests he harbored resentment toward the military, claiming they concealed “a mysterious story” about his injuries. Before his military service, Edge reportedly grew up hunting in New York and enlisted in the Marines following the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, having previously competed as a high school wrestler.
The community now faces the difficult process of healing while authorities continue their investigation. The five injured victims remain under medical care, and their conditions have not been publicly disclosed. District Attorney John David noted during Sunday’s press conference that his office does seek the death penalty in “appropriate cases,” suggesting the possibility of capital punishment given North Carolina’s legal framework. Edge is currently being held without bond as he faces 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. David added that additional charges may be forthcoming as the investigation progresses.
Law enforcement officials are urging anyone with information about the suspect or the incident to come forward as they work to piece together the full picture of what led to this devastating attack. The shooting has once again brought the national conversation about gun violence, mental health support for veterans, and public safety to the forefront as communities across America continue to grapple with the epidemic of mass shootings. As Southport mourns its losses and tends to its wounded, the case against Nigel Max Edge begins its journey through the justice system, with a community watching closely for answers and accountability in the wake of senseless violence.
