The Southport mass shooting at the American Fish Company

What Happened

On the night of September 27, 2025, around 9:30 p.m. local time, gunfire erupted at the American Fish Company, a waterfront bar and restaurant in Southport, North Carolina.
The shooter fired from a small boat moving along the Intracoastal Waterway / Cape Fear River, stopping briefly in front of the establishment to shoot into the crowd of patrons, then fleeing by boat.
In total, three people were killed and at least eight others were wounded in the attack.
After the shooting, the suspect fled toward Oak Island, another town nearby.

Roughly 30 minutes after the shooting, the U.S. Coast Guard spotted an individual matching the shooter’s description loading a boat at a public ramp in Oak Island. That individual was detained and turned over to the Southport Police Department.
The suspect is identified as Nigel Max Edge (also previously known as Sean DeBevoise).
Edge is being held without bond and is expected to make a court appearance soon.
The criminal charges currently include:
1. Three counts of first-degree murder
2. Five counts of attempted first-degree murder
3. Five counts of assault with a deadly weapon

The attack has been described by law enforcement as “highly premeditated” and targeted, meaning authorities believe it was planned in advance rather than random.
The location was a popular waterfront dining and social spot, which raises concern about public safety in areas that mix nightlife and water access.
As of now, authorities have not publicly disclosed the identities of the victims or detailed conditions of those injured.
The motive is not yet known. Investigators from local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies are collecting evidence, interviewing witnesses, and trying to piece together how and why the attack occurred.

The shooting has shocked the local community. Southport is a relatively small town, and waterfront venues are common in coastal areas — so such violence in this setting is especially jarring.
The use of a boat as the attacker’s platform introduces challenges for policing — the gunman had an escape route via water, complicating immediate pursuit and response.
The case may raise renewed questions about firearm access, mental health, and security at public gathering places, especially in outdoor or semi-open settings like waterfront venues.