SOUTHPORT, N.C. — A mass shooting at a popular waterfront restaurant in Southport, North Carolina, left three people dead and eight others injured on Saturday night. Authorities have arrested Nigel Edge, 39, in connection with the deadly attack.
The incident occurred around 9:30 p.m. at the American Fish Company restaurant, located in the Southport Yacht Basin — about 30 miles south of Wilmington. According to investigators, Edge arrived by boat and began firing indiscriminately at a crowd of unsuspecting diners with an AR-style rifle equipped with a silencer, folding stock, and scope.
Edge reportedly fled the scene via the Intracoastal Waterway. Roughly 30 minutes later, a U.S. Coast Guard crew spotted a boat being loaded at a public ramp on nearby Oak Island. Edge was detained and handed over to Southport police.
Court documents reveal that Edge faces multiple charges, including:
Three counts of first-degree murder
Five counts of attempted first-degree murder
Five counts of assault with a dangerous weapon
He is currently being held without bond at the Brunswick County Detention Center, with his first court appearance scheduled for Monday.
Authorities say the motive remains unknown at this stage of the investigation.
Southport Police Chief Todd Coring called the shooting a tragedy for the tight-knit coastal town.
“We’re a small community — one of those places where everybody knows everybody,” Coring said. “It’s just a very tragic night.”
The investigation is ongoing, with local, state, and federal agencies involved.
