SOUTHPORT, N.C. (AP) — A tragic mass shooting disrupted the evening calm of the seaside town of Southport, North Carolina, resulting in three fatalities and five injuries. The police stated that the attack was premeditated and that the suspect, Nigel Edge, 40, from Oak Island, was taken into custody shortly after the incident.
According to Police Chief Todd Coring, the suspect targeted the American Fish Company bar on Saturday night, firing indiscriminately from a small boat into the crowd gathered at the waterfront, before fleeing the scene.
Edge was apprehended about thirty minutes post-shooting when a U.S. Coast Guard crew spotted someone matching his description transporting a boat at a ramp. He is currently facing three counts of first-degree murder, five counts of attempted murder, and multiple counts of assault with a deadly weapon.
Investigators revealed that the weapon used in the attack was an assault rifle, although the specific model has not been disclosed. Chief Coring noted that Edge presents himself as a combat veteran suffering from PTSD, which he claims resulted from injuries incurred during his service.
Edge is expected to make his initial court appearance on Monday, while authorities continue to investigate the case with assistance from the State Bureau of Investigation. Tragically, one of the injured individuals remains in critical condition, highlighting the devastating impact of this violent incident on the community.
The names of the victims have not been publicly disclosed, and further investigations are ongoing as officials work to uncover more details about this horrific crime.
