Southport, NC Mass Shooting: The Identity and Background of the Perpetrator

Liputan6.com, Jakarta On Saturday night, September 27, 2025, the peaceful atmosphere at the American Fish Company, a popular waterfront restaurant and bar in Southport, NC, suddenly turned tense.

The mass shooting, which occurred around 9:30 PM local time, killed three people and injured at least five others, rocked the local community.

The shooter opened fire from a small boat that had briefly stopped outside the restaurant, targeting a crowd of diners enjoying the evening.

The shooting took place at 150 Yacht Basin Dr, Southport, NC 28461, in the Southport Yacht Basin along the Intracoastal Waterway, about 30 miles south of Wilmington.

Southport Police Chief Todd Coring immediately declared the shooting a "highly planned" attack and that the location was "targeted."

The shooting incident began around 9:30 PM local time when a small boat approached the American Fish Company.

From the boat, the perpetrator used an assault rifle to open fire on restaurant patrons, causing panic among those present.

After carrying out the attack, the boat immediately fled down the Intracoastal Waterway toward Oak Island.

Authorities from multiple agencies were immediately deployed to respond and begin a manhunt for the perpetrator of the shooting in Southport, NC.

This tragedy claimed the lives of three people, whose identities have not been officially released by authorities.

In addition, at least five others were injured and had to be hospitalized, with several reported in critical condition.

About 30 minutes after the shooting, at approximately 10:00 PM, U.S. Coast Guard personnel identified a person matching the description of the suspect.

The suspect was seen loading a boat at a public boat ramp on Oak Island, not far from the scene of the shooting in Southport, NC.

The perpetrator was identified as Nigel Max Edge, 40, a combat veteran living in Oak Island, North Carolina.

His real name is Sean William DeBevoise, who later legally changed his identity to Nigel Max Edge in 2003.

Edge is believed to suffer from PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder) and identifies himself as a combat veteran wounded in action.

He has also reportedly been diagnosed with schizophrenia and cognitive dysfunction as a result of a serious traumatic brain injury he suffered during a deployment to Iraq in 2006.

Edge is also known to local authorities for having filed lawsuits against the city and the police department.

After being taken into custody by the Coast Guard, Edge was handed over to the Oak Island Police Department before being transferred to the Southport Police Department for questioning.

He was charged with 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.

Edge is being held without bail, with additional charges pending.

Speaking to NBC News, Rachel Crowl, his ex-partner, said she hadn't spoken to him in a decade. The publication, citing court records, said their divorce was finalized in 2009. However, Crowl opened up about Edge's mental health issues.

She said the former US Marine had been "crying for help for a long time" about his behavior and mental health.

Crowl further told the publication that his actions were "very wrong."

“I’m sad for these families. I’m sad nobody helped him and this could have maybe been prevented,” Crowl added.

The shooter reportedly served in the US Marines from September 2003 to June 2009, according to military records.

He held the rank of sergeant and was deployed to Iraq.

Reports indicate he received numerous awards, including the Purple Heart, the Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal, the Combat Action Ribbon for Iraq, and the Iraq Campaign Medal, as well as two bronze stars.

Meanwhile, Oak Island Police Chief Charlie Morris said that Edge was known to local law enforcement because he "frequently hung out" at their pier.

The official also reportedly said that Edge had filed several lawsuits against the city of Oak Island in recent years.

He has now been charged with three counts of first-degree murder, five counts of attempted murder, and five counts of assault with a deadly weapon.