The man accused of opening fire on a packed waterfront bar in this small coastal town Saturday night was once celebrated as a Marine combat veteran, but his later years were marked by erratic lawsuits, increasing isolation, and troubling behavior. Now, prosecutors say Nigel Max Edge, 39, stands charged with a “highly premeditated” attack that left three people dead and at least eight others wounded.
The assault occurred just after 9:30 p.m. at the American Fish Company, a popular Southport restaurant and filming location for the 2013 movie “Safe Haven.” Witnesses said live music was playing when gunfire erupted from the water. Building on this chaos, authorities allege Edge, armed with a short-barreled AR rifle outfitted with a suppressor, folding stock, and scope, anchored a center-console boat near the dockside venue and began spraying bullets into the crowd.
“This was highly premeditated,” Southport Police Chief Todd Coring said at a Sunday news conference, describing Edge as a “lone wolf” who acted deliberately. Brunswick County District Attorney Jon David added that many victims were visiting from out of state and had come to enjoy the coastal community’s nightlife.
After the gunfire, Edge fled down the Intracoastal Waterway. Around 30 minutes later, linking the aftermath to his capture, the U.S. Coast Guard intercepted him at an Oak Island marina as he attempted to load his vessel. He was arrested without incident and remains held without bond at the Brunswick County Detention Center. Court records show 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.
Authorities have not released the names of the deceased, though they confirmed one wounded victim remains “clinging to life.” While the State Bureau of Investigation assists local police, officials emphasize there is no continuing threat to the public, reinforcing community reassurance following the attack.
Edge’s background has become a central focus of the investigation. Military officials confirmed he served in the Marine Corps from 2003 to 2009, with deployments to Iraq in 2005 and 2006. His service — which earned multiple medals and a Purple Heart — ended with physical and psychological wounds, including surviving two IED attacks and a gunshot injury.
But Edge’s post-military life took a troubling turn. After legally changing his name from Sean DeBevoise in 2023, he began filing conspiracy-laden lawsuits in Brunswick County, including bizarre claims against a local church and hospital. Both suits were dismissed.
These claims echoed a self-published book in which Edge, writing under his former name, alleged he had been shot by friendly fire as part of a conspiracy and identified himself as suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder.
Despite those behaviors, District Attorney David said Edge had no serious criminal record. This point underscores the challenge authorities faced in anticipating such an act. “There were some minor contacts over the years, but nothing significant in his past which would give us any indication that he was capable of such horrors,” David said.
Edge’s life also intersected with celebrity culture. In 2012, he was photographed on the red carpet with country singer and American Idol alum Kellie Pickler at the Country Music Awards.
For Southport residents, the violence has cut deep. “We’re a small community, one of the communities where everybody knows everybody,” Chief Coring told reporters. “It’s just a very tragic night.” The American Fish Company has since announced that it will close indefinitely, stating, “Our hearts are broken, and our prayers are with the victims, their families, and everyone affected by this tragedy.”
The shooting has renewed calls for both stronger public safety measures and better support for veterans struggling with trauma. Gov. Josh Stein, who visited the area Sunday, called the attack a “clarion call” to fix the state’s mental health system, adding, “There are too many people in our communities with dangerous obsessions, exhibiting threatening behavior, who do pose risks. We have got to do better.”
As investigators search for a motive, Edge’s story stands as a stark collision of valor and violence. His journey from decorated hero to accused mass shooter raises urgent questions about how communities identify warning signs and support veterans struggling with invisible wounds.
For Southport, a town of just over 4,000 perched on the mouth of the Cape Fear River, the path to healing will be long. For the nation, the lessons may prove even harder to confront.
