In the usually tranquil coastal town of Southport, North Carolina, a sense of disbelief and sorrow lingers after a harrowing mass shooting shattered the community’s peace late Saturday night. The attack, which authorities have described as “highly premeditated,” claimed the lives of three people and left at least five others wounded at the American Fish Company, a popular waterfront bar and live-music venue on Yacht Basin Drive. As the investigation unfolds, locals and vacationers alike are grappling with the tragedy and the unsettling details emerging about the suspect, Nigel Edge.
According to multiple reports including WBTV, NPR, and the Associated Press, the shooting occurred around 9:30 p.m. on September 27, 2025. Witnesses and officials say that Edge, 40, piloted a white center-console boat close to the open-air dock-front bar, which was bustling with live music and weekend revelers. Without warning, he opened fire with an assault rifle into the crowd gathered on the deck. The sudden violence left three people dead and five others injured, with at least one victim reported to be “clinging for their life,” according to District Attorney Jon David.
“In the face of such darkness, we will not let hate or despair win. We will come together to support one another. We will not let this define Southport,” Southport Police Chief Todd Coring said in a statement, echoing the community’s resolve to heal. The city quickly organized a vigil on Sunday night, drawing grieving residents and visitors to honor the victims and offer support to their families.
Among those in attendance was Whitney Johnson, who recounted her narrow escape: “We’re so thankful that we got out OK, but just devastated for the people that were injured and their families and people that were killed. It’s just, you know, a senseless act and just terrible and heartbreaking for such a small coastal town,” she told WBTV.
After the shooting, Edge sped away in his boat along the Intracoastal Waterway. About thirty minutes later, at approximately 10 p.m., the U.S. Coast Guard spotted him loading his vessel at a public boat ramp in Oak Island, based on a description circulated by authorities. He was detained by Coast Guard personnel and handed over to Southport police. Edge is currently being held without bond at the Brunswick County jail and is scheduled to appear in court Monday, September 29, 2025.
Investigators from the State Bureau of Investigation, the Coast Guard, and local law enforcement have been combing the scene for evidence and interviewing witnesses since the attack. Officials have not yet released the names of the victims, but District Attorney Jon David noted that many were vacationers visiting the area. “A lot of the victims in this case appear to be not members of our community, but just people who were here on vacation,” David said at a press conference, according to NPR. He also described arriving at the scene and seeing “with my own eyes the horror which has occurred in this case.”
Police have charged Edge 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, inflicting serious injury. Authorities have indicated that additional charges could be forthcoming as the investigation continues. Chief Coring emphasized that the location was “targeted” and that the attack was not a random act of violence, but he did not elaborate further.
As details about the suspect have emerged, the story has taken a number of unexpected turns. State voter registration records and law enforcement sources confirm that Edge, who previously went by the name Sean DeBevoise (sometimes spelled DeBovoise), legally changed his name in 2023. The Defense Department confirmed to NPR that DeBevoise is a decorated combat veteran who served in Iraq in 2005 and 2006 and was awarded a Purple Heart. In a book about his military service, he described being badly wounded—shot four times, including once in the head, by friendly fire.
Edge’s name change and background have attracted significant attention, not least because of his surprising celebrity connection. As reported by Syracuse.com and the New York Post, DeBevoise attended the 2012 CMT Music Awards as country star Kellie Pickler’s date, appearing in his Marine uniform with his service dog, Rusty. “I am ecstatic about being here at the CMT Music Awards with Kellie, even more to consider her a friend,” he said at the time, according to Taste of Country. “She is the most sincere person I know. She is an angel.”
In a bizarre twist, Edge (under his current name) sued Pickler in February 2025, accusing her of attempting to poison him with a glass of whiskey—a claim for which no evidence has been presented. He has also filed lawsuits against the town of Oak Island, the local police department, and Brunswick Medical Center, alleging various conspiracies and attempts on his life. Law enforcement sources told the New York Post that Edge had been harboring QAnon conspiracy theories and, in court documents, claimed that a cabal of “LGBTQ White Supremacists” and pedophiles were targeting him because he is a “straight man.”
Despite his notoriety in certain circles, officials stressed that Edge’s prior interactions with law enforcement were minor and did not suggest he was capable of such violence. “He was well-known to law enforcement, but he wasn’t quite as well known in the criminal court system,” District Attorney David explained, as reported by WBTV. Oak Island Police Chief Charlie Morris added that Edge was a familiar face on the local pier, but nothing in his past indicated a propensity for violence of this magnitude.
Edge has identified himself as a combat veteran suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and Chief Coring noted that Edge “self-identifies” as having been injured in the line of duty. The weapon used in the attack was described as an assault rifle, though police have not specified the exact make or model.
The American Fish Company, a beloved spot known for its live music and as a filming location for the movie “Safe Haven,” has announced it will be closed indefinitely. “Our hearts are broken, and our prayers are with the victims, their families, and everyone affected by this tragedy,” the business said in a statement. The neighboring Frying Pan restaurant will also remain closed for the foreseeable future.
Southport, a town known for its quiet charm and close-knit community, is struggling to make sense of the violence. As investigators continue to piece together the events of that night, residents are left to mourn, remember, and support one another in the face of profound loss. The hope, voiced by many, is that the community’s unity and resilience will carry them through the difficult days ahead.
