BRUNSWICK COUNTY — The man accused of a mass-shooting that took place in the waterfront community of Southport over the weekend had his first appearance before a judge Monday.
In a packed courtroom, local and national media, as well as law enforcement and others — some who were teary-eyed while bearing witness to a first look at suspect Nigel Max Edge — heard from Judge Scott Ussery, who ordered Edge remain in the Brunswick County Detention Center without bond. Edge is accused of killing three people and injuring five more after opening fire with an assault rifle from his boat at the American Fish Company on Saturday around 9:30 p.m.
Handcuffed in a chair, Edge appeared virtually from the detention center and only spoke a few words invoking his right to a court-ordered defender. Representing him is Matt Geoffrion, a capital defender, who invoked the fifth amendment on his client’s behalf, noting Edge wouldn’t be speaking.
District Attorney Jon David is trying the case for the state, with assistance from first ADA Jenna Earley. They both spoke Monday, asking the judge to forgo a bond, despite the capital defender asking for a “reasonable cash” bond.
Geoffrion said everyone is innocent “until proven guilty — and I would just note, he’s served our country previously.”
Edge was in the Marine Corps from 2003 to 2009, where he was injured in the line of duty, and was awarded a Purple Heart. In a self-published book, “Headshot: Betrayal of a Nation (Truths Untold)” — found in his belongings as part of law enforcement’s search warrants — he details his tours in Iraq, including being shot in the head during deployment and sustaining a traumatic brain injury. Shrapnel remains in part of his brain and the Marine has sustained nerve damage.
Though Edge has no prior local record, aside from a traffic violation — and minor offenses dismissed in other regions, David said — he now faces three counts of first-degree murder, five counts of common law-attempted first-degree murder and five counts of assault with a deadly weapon to inflict serious injury or death. The murder charges carry life sentences without parole or the death penalty, while attempted murder mandates up to 40 years in prison and the assault with a deadly weapon can garner around 19 years in prison.
David called the suspect a danger to the community, considering the triple homicide, and also found the fatal shootings to be pre-meditated. Witness accounts put Edge at American Fish Company on Friday evening as well, but he sped away when another boat approached with its lights on, Earley detailed.
“This has led us to believe that his initial plans were to take place on Friday night,” she said, “but he left and returned on Saturday.”
This would be an aggravating factor to be considered if seeking the death penalty, which David said he wants to review in coming weeks.
In Brunswick County, a panel of senior assistant district attorneys convene to review incidents on a case-by-case basis to determine if the death penalty should be pursued. However, North Carolina has been under a de facto moratorium on executions since 2006; some state lawmakers have discussed in recent weeks undoing this, after a Charlotte fatal stabbing of a Ukranian refugee took place on the city’s light rail system in late August.
Should David seek the death penalty in the Edge case, it would move to Superior Court. Edge’s next court date is Oct. 13 for a probable cause hearing.
ADA Earley also detailed two of the three fatalities in Saturday’s shooting suffered from gunshot wounds to the head. The victims’ names have yet to be revealed, though some were described as vacationers at a Sunday press conference. Southport Police Chief Todd Coring expects more info to be revealed Tuesday.
“[Edge] had extensive training and experience using firearms,” David said, adding the suspect was a scout sniper in the Marines.
The district attorney suspects Edge has severe mental health issues due to his injuries, but was clear he has not assessed the suspect’s medical records yet. David also mentioned conspiracy theorist accusations that have been detailed in multiple lawsuits the suspect has taken out against varied institutions and people, including Oak Island Police Department, Brunswick Medical Center and Generations Church.
As Port City Daily first reported on Sunday, Edge has accused people at these institutions of being in an LGBTQ and white supremacist pedophile ring conspiring against him, while also indicating others have attempted to poison him.
He also writes in his book the friendly fire that struck him during deployment was part of an international conspiracy and coverup by the military.
“There are mental health issues which explain behavior and mental health issues that excuse behavior,” David said in the courtroom. “And I think it’s just simply too early in the process to talk about whether or not this mental health issue is going to be in any form a defense or even mitigating factor.”
Thus, the DA said he will work with the defense in coming months to pore through Edge’s background information as needed.
“But this office will be making the decision about the death penalty as soon as practically possible,” David added.
Law enforcement lined the halls outside the courtroom Monday as well to attend the first hearing. First-responders arrived to the scene at American Fish Company after 911 calls came in describing a white center console vessel that had been docked in the water for a while and took off after the shooting.
“In this area, that’s like looking for a needle in the haystack,” Earley said of the boat description.
However, the response was “swift,” she praised, with deputies hopping aboard the U.S. Coast Guard and speeding down the waterway to find Edge at an Oak Island public boat ramp. Individuals that lived in the condos nearby reported seeing him getting into his truck to load the boat.
Police approached, guns drawn, as he was heading toward the ramp, Earley continued. They said he exited and complied with demands, also admitting to having a .380 handgun in his waistband, which officers retrieved.
Earley said during questioning, at first Edge denied being a part of the incident, “but, ultimately, he did make incriminating statements.”
Officers executed search warrants on the boat, vehicle and house and retrieved multiple firearms, including a 300 blackout AR that Earley said is “believed to be the murder weapon.” Also discovered were magazines, with some rounds having ballistic tips.
“When you consider the number of firearms and ammunition recovered from those various places, and the way in which law enforcement happened upon that boat and the way they took a tactical position and were able to apprehend him — things could have gotten even worse,” Earley stated. “And I don’t think that should be lost on this court when it weighs its public safety analysis.”
Governor hosts press conference in Southport
Just before Edge’s first-appearance, Gov. Josh Stein hosted a press conference at the Southport Community Building around 1 p.m. on Monday. In attendance was Mayor Rich Alt, who praised the law enforcement partners, including federal and state, such as the State Bureau of Investigation’s 20 agents on the scene, for stepping in to help the Southport and Oak Island Police departments and the Brunswick County Sheriff’s Office.
“As we struggle with the various human emotions that come upon us during moments of violence and evil, we must look to the future and not let this event define us,” Alt said.
Only 48 hours before the shooting, Alt said he was at American Fish Company, hobnobbing with someone from another jurisdiction, praising what the two areas have accomplished.
Brunswick Sheriff Brian Chism also thanked everyone who came together to help victims to the hospital, noting many of those agencies haven’t been mentioned. EMS and fire, as well as other medical personnel, helped victims at a time of “dire need.”
“We all go through trying times in our lives,” Chism said. “Our faith is being tested right now, but you have all heard this: ‘He will not give us more than He can handle.’”
Chism expressed gratitude to the community, as 1,000 turned out for a Sunday evening vigil that was hosted at Southport Baptist Church, in tribute to the victims.
The Billy Graham Rapid Response Team has been deployed to Southport as well to help first responders and others who may need emotional and spiritual support. They are set up at Frying Pan restaurant.
“I urge you to lean on each other in this wonderful community you have built here,” Gov. Stein said. “You do not grieve alone; we stand with you.”
State representatives of Brunswick County, Charlie Miller and Bill Rabon, were in attendance at the governor’s press conference, of whom Stein thanked along with law enforcement. He commended the agencies for their standup leadership and expedient response to apprehend Edge: “Your excellent police work may have saved additional lives.”
Stein added more needs to be done to prevent acts of violence, noting the recent Charlotte stabbing, which led to the arrest of Decarlos Brown. It’s been reported Brown also had a history of mental illness.
“We must fix our broken healthcare system,” Stein said. “We know the majority of mental health challenges don’t pose risks to others, but some do.”
Stein suggested a more integrated system between law enforcement and mental health resources, since they are on the front lines often responding. He also said he wasn’t against a red flag law, which would allow by court order firearms to be removed from people who present a dangerous risk to the greater community.
Oak Island Police Chief Charlie Morris said during a Sunday press conference the community was familiar with Edge, who often would interact with employees and hang out at the department dock. One of the people in attendance at American Fish Company on Saturday evening, who escaped the shooting, told PCD her neighbors also were familiar with the suspect and called him “unhinged — someone who shouldn’t have access to weapons.”
PREVIOUS REPORTING ON THE SOUTHPORT SHOOTING
- Officials believe Southport shooting was ‘highly premeditated,’ witness speaks about incident
- ‘Tragic’: Southport PD chief confirms fatalities, injuries in waterfront shooting
- Man arrested for fatal shooting at Southport Yacht Basin
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