Mass Shooting Rocks North Carolina Waterfront: What We Know About the Southport Attack

Southport, North Carolina — a sleepy coastal town known for its scenic waterfront and laid-back Southern charm — was shattered this weekend by a brazen and highly premeditated mass shooting that left three people dead and several more wounded. What should’ve been a relaxing Saturday night by the water turned into a scene of chaos, heartbreak, and unanswered questions.

According to officials, the shooter pulled up on a boat to the American Fish Company, a popular bar along the Cape Fear River, and opened fire with an AR-style rifle outfitted with a suppressor and folding stock. Witnesses say patrons were scrambling for cover as bullets sprayed across the deck.

Who Was Behind the Attack?

Police quickly identified the suspect as Nigel Max Edge, 40, of Oak Island.

• Edge is a U.S. Marine veteran who has previously claimed to suffer from PTSD.

• Reports also reveal he had filed lawsuits against local authorities in the past, alleging harassment and civil rights violations.

• Authorities say this was not a random act. The location and timing were “targeted” and “highly premeditated.”

Edge was arrested about 30 minutes later by the U.S. Coast Guard, still on the water. He now faces a slew of charges, including:

• 3 counts of first-degree murder

• 5 counts of attempted first-degree murder

• Assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill

  
  

Victims and Community Impact

As of now, the identities of the three people killed have not been released. Several others remain hospitalized with injuries.

The Southport community is reeling. The American Fish Company isn’t just a bar — it’s a gathering spot where locals and tourists mingle to enjoy live music and coastal vibes. That such a violent act took place here feels almost unthinkable.

Governor Josh Stein announced he will personally visit Southport this week to meet with victims’ families and local leaders.

What’s Still Unclear

While we know who pulled the trigger, the motive remains murky. Was this driven by personal vendettas? Mental health struggles left untreated? Or something deeper, tied to Edge’s history of conflict with authorities?

Other lingering questions:

• Were specific victims targeted?

• How was he able to access and modify such a weapon?

• What warning signs, if any, were missed?

  
  

A Bigger Picture: Gun Violence in America

Sadly, this mass shooting is part of a disturbing trend. According to the Gun Violence Archive, the U.S. has already recorded over 500 mass shootings this year alone. What sets Southport apart is the method: a shooter attacking from a boat — something out of a movie scene, but tragically very real.

Communities across the country are grappling with questions about public safety, gun laws, mental health support, and accountability.

This story hits hard because it’s another reminder that no space feels safe anymore — not churches, not schools, not grocery stores, and now not even a peaceful waterfront bar in a small North Carolina town.

While officials sort out the legal case and families mourn their loved ones, the rest of us are left asking:

• How many more times will we see this cycle of grief, outrage, and inaction?

• When will America take seriously both mental health care for veterans and the deadly accessibility of high-powered firearms?

This isn’t just “breaking news” — it’s another chapter in America’s gun violence epidemic, one that deserves not just headlines but real solutions.

✨ Shalena Speaks will keep following this story as more details emerge about the victims, the suspect, and the community’s response.