Three Dead, Eight Injured After Shooting From Boat Into Restaurant in North Carolina [WATCH]

Three people were killed and eight others were injured Saturday night when a gunman opened fire from a boat into a crowded waterfront restaurant in Southport, North Carolina, according to local officials.

The incident occurred at approximately 9:30 p.m. at the American Fish Company restaurant, located in the Southport Yacht Basin.

Authorities said an unidentified boater pulled alongside the dock and fired multiple shots into the crowd of diners before fleeing the scene up the Intracoastal Waterway.

Roughly half an hour later, around 10 p.m., a person matching the description of the shooter was seen loading a vessel at a marina on Oak Island, about five miles west of Southport, city officials confirmed.

The U.S. Coast Guard detained the individual, who was turned over to Oak Island police.

The person is being held pending transfer back to Southport for questioning.

Authorities have not released the suspect’s name, nor have they identified a motive for the attack.

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The Southport Police Department confirmed three fatalities and eight injuries from the shooting.

Officials declared an “active shooter” situation shortly after the attack, which was lifted once the person of interest was in custody.

“IMPORTANTLY, there is currently no known further credible threat to the public.

Officers and Deputies from multiple agencies are in place to help ensure additional security for the greater area,” Southport police said in a statement.

American Fish Company, the site of the shooting, is a popular dockside bar and restaurant in Southport known for its live music events.

On Saturday night, the band “Bacon Grease” had been scheduled to perform from 7 to 10 p.m., according to the restaurant’s Instagram page.

Law enforcement agencies from across the region responded to the scene, including local police, sheriff’s deputies, and Coast Guard personnel.

Emergency crews provided treatment to the injured, though authorities did not immediately release information on the conditions of those hospitalized.

The shooting disrupted what was otherwise a crowded weekend evening at the Southport Yacht Basin, a hub for boaters, tourists, and residents in Brunswick County.

Officials said the investigation remains active, with multiple agencies assisting Southport police in collecting evidence and interviewing witnesses.

The identity of the victims has not yet been released, pending notification of family members.

The attack has shaken the coastal town of Southport, which is known for its waterfront restaurants, marinas, and annual Independence Day celebrations.

Local leaders said further information will be provided as the investigation develops and more details become available.

Authorities have urged anyone who witnessed the incident or has information about the suspect’s movements to contact Southport police.

For now, officials emphasized that the immediate danger to the public has passed, but investigations into the motive and circumstances surrounding the shooting are ongoing.

UPDATE: The shooter has been identified.

BREAKING: Police in Southport, North Carolina announced that Nigel Edge is the suspected shooter accused of killing 3 people at a restaurant Saturday night. pic.twitter.com/krcKdcXov8

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