3 Killed, 5 injured in ‘highly premeditated’ shooting

SOUTHPORT N C A mass shooting that shattered the evening tranquility of a picturesque seaside town in North Carolina was a highly premeditated attack that left three people dead and five injured police mentioned Sunday The suspect who allegedly carried out the attack on a waterfront bar was in custody Nigel Edge of Oak Island is accused of opening fire Saturday night from a boat into a crowd gathered at the American Fish Company in Southport a historic port town about miles south of Wilmington Police Chief Todd Coring reported At a press conference Sunday Coring mentioned the location was targeted but he did not elaborate Personnel mentioned Edge piloted a small boat close to shore which was lined with bars and restaurants stopped briefly and fired He then sped away Roughly half an hour after the shooting a U S Coast Guard crew spotted a person matching the suspect s description pulling a boat from the water at a residents ramp on Oak Island The person was detained and turned over to Southport police for questioning bureaucrats disclosed Edge is charged with three counts of first-degree murder five counts of attempted first-degree murder and five counts of assault with a deadly weapon He could face additional charges Coring disclosed The weapon used was an assault rifle although Coring didn t specify what kind 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 Coring stated referring to post-traumatic stress disorder Edge is scheduled to make his first court appearance on Monday District Attorney Jon David explained He is being held without bond Among the five people hospitalized with injuries at least one is now clinging for their life David noted Particular of the casualties were vacationers from out of town Oak Island Police Chief Charlie Morris revealed the suspect was known to police as someone who frequently hung out on our pier and that he had filed lawsuits against the town and police department over the last limited years He did not elaborate The district attorney disclosed Edge had had minor contacts with police in the past but nothing important in his past which would give us any indication that he was capable of such horror It was not this instant known whether Edge has an attorney to speak on his behalf No attorney was listed on court documents A call to Legal Aid services in Brunswick County went unanswered Sunday Investigators from multiple agencies including the State Bureau of Research and the Coast Guard remained on the water and at the scene Sunday collecting evidence and interviewing spectators Agents did not right now release the names of the casualties Chris Seward The Associated PressPolice officers monitor the scene Sunday in front of the American Fish Company following a fatal shooting that left dead and five injured on Saturday night AP Photo Chris Seward People place flowers in front of the American Fish Company in Southport N C AP Photo Chris Seward