SOUTHPORT — The seventh most read piece in 2025 came in September after an ambush of gunfire struck the sleepy coastal town of Southport. A veteran Marine and former sniper shot at a crowd from his boat, at a popular waterfront bar facing the Intracoastal Waterway.
Three people died and multiple others were injured as the shooter sped away on the water, while law enforcement and emergency personnel rushed to the scene in minutes flat. Within an hour of the incident, and with the help of state and federal agencies, local law enforcement in Southport and Oak Island, as well as the U.S. Coast Guard, located Nigel Max Edge and arrested him.
Officials believe the incident was “premeditated in nature” and county District Attorney Jon David — set to retire at the end of 2026 — is prosecuting the case and exploring the death penalty.
Port City Daily covered the incident as it was unfolding. Catch up on all coverage below, from the night it happened to the shooter’s arrest and first court hearing, to the release of victims’ names affected by the incident.
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