On the evening of September 27, 2025, the tranquil waterfront of Southport, North Carolina, was shattered by a mass shooting that left three people dead and at least eight others wounded. The attack, described by authorities as both “highly premeditated” and “targeted,” unfolded at the American Fish Company, a popular open-air bar perched along the Cape Fear River, just as locals and tourists were enjoying the late summer air and, for some, the promise of live music from a performer known as Bacon Grease.
According to city spokesperson ChyAnn Ketchum, the violence erupted around 9:30 p.m. when a gunman piloted a small boat up to the bar’s dock, paused, and then opened fire with an assault rifle into the crowd gathered on the deck. Witnesses described chaos as patrons scrambled for cover, some diving behind tables and others fleeing toward the water’s edge. The gunman then sped away by boat, heading up the Intracoastal Waterway, leaving behind a scene of devastation and confusion.
Within minutes, Southport’s emergency alert system was activated, and the city posted a warning on Facebook about reports of an active shooter along the waterfront, urging residents to stay in their homes and avoid the area. Southport Police Chief Todd Coring called it “a very tragic night” for the small city, which is home to just over 4,000 people and is better known for its picturesque marina and as the filming location of the 2013 movie ‘Safe Haven’ than for violent crime. “We’re a small community, one of the communities where everybody knows everybody,” Chief Coring told reporters, his voice heavy with emotion.
Authorities say the suspect, later identified as 40-year-old Nigel Max Edge of Oak Island, North Carolina, was apprehended about half an hour after the shooting. The U.S. Coast Guard, acting on witness descriptions, spotted Edge at a public boat ramp in Oak Island, approximately 12 miles west of Southport. He was reportedly loading his boat onto a trailer when detained and was quickly turned over to Southport Police for questioning. Edge is being held without bail at the Brunswick County Jail, with his first court appearance scheduled for Monday, September 29, 2025.
District Attorney Jon David, speaking at a Sunday press conference, did not mince words: “Evil has come ashore in Southport, North Carolina. Ironically enough, at the very place which once served as a backdrop to the movie ‘Safe Haven.’” David revealed that Edge 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 or injure. He added that additional charges could follow as the investigation continues. The identities of the victims have not yet been released, but officials confirmed that at least one of the wounded is in critical condition and “clinging for their life.”
While the motive for the shooting remains under investigation, police emphasized that the attack was not random. “This was a targeted shooting by a lone wolf gunman,” Chief Coring said, noting the “highly premeditated” nature of the assault. Edge, who reportedly self-identifies as a combat veteran suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), was known to Oak Island police as someone who “frequently hung out on our pier” and had filed lawsuits against the town and police department in recent years. However, as District Attorney David pointed out, there was “nothing significant in his past which would give us any indication that he was capable of such horror.”
Investigators from multiple agencies, including the State Bureau of Investigation and the Coast Guard, worked through the night and into Sunday, collecting evidence from the scene and interviewing witnesses. Southport officials have asked anyone who was at the American Fish Company on Friday or Saturday, especially those with video footage, to contact police immediately. “We understand this suspect identifies as a combat veteran. He self-identifies. Injured in the line of duty is what he’s saying, he suffers from PTSD,” said Chief Coring, underscoring the complexities investigators face as they piece together the events and motivations behind the attack.
The American Fish Company, a former fish shack turned bar, is known for its live music, waterfront sunsets, and a laid-back atmosphere that draws both locals and vacationers. On Saturday night, the venue was bustling, with tourists and residents alike enjoying the final days of summer. “Most of the victims shot were tourists visiting the town,” District Attorney David noted, highlighting the ripple effect the tragedy will have beyond the local community.
As news of the shooting spread, shock and sorrow gripped Southport and neighboring Oak Island. The city’s leadership moved quickly to reassure residents that there was no ongoing threat. “I’m comfortable to say that we don’t feel like there’s any additional threats to the community,” Chief Coring stated after the suspect’s arrest. Still, the sense of safety that once defined the waterfront has been fundamentally shaken. The shooting marks one of more than 320 mass shootings in the United States this year in which at least four people have been killed, according to data from the Gun Violence Archive. In 2024, there were 503 such incidents nationwide—a grim reminder of the broader epidemic of gun violence that continues to plague the country.
In the aftermath, both the local and national media descended on Southport, a town unaccustomed to the spotlight for such tragic reasons. Residents gathered at makeshift memorials along the waterfront, leaving flowers and candles in honor of the victims. City officials, while urging patience as the investigation unfolds, have promised transparency and regular updates. “Just know you are as safe as you can be right now,” Chief Coring told the community, asking for prayers for the victims and their families.
For now, the American Fish Company remains closed, its familiar deck eerily quiet as investigators continue their work. The Cape Fear River, usually a symbol of serenity and recreation, now bears witness to a community’s grief and resilience. As Southport begins the difficult process of healing, questions linger about what led to the attack, how it might have been prevented, and what comes next for a town forever changed.
In a place where everyone knows everyone, the impact of this tragedy will be felt for years to come. But amid the heartbreak, there is a shared determination among residents and officials alike to support one another, honor those lost, and reclaim the sense of safety that is so central to the fabric of their small coastal community.
