A decorated Marine veteran charged with firing an assault rifle from a boat at a waterfront bar, killing three people and wounding five, appeared subdued in Brunswick County Court on Monday as prosecutors said they are weighing whether to seek the death penalty.
Nigel Edge, 40, a Purple Heart recipient whose last assignment was with a Wounded Warrior battalion, made his first court appearance by video link after Saturday’s shooting. He is charged with murder, attempted murder and assault; no plea was entered and a judge ordered him held pending a hearing set for Oct. 13.
Why It Matters
The attack on a crowded bar in a small coastal town underscored concerns about public safety, the lingering effects of combat trauma among some veterans and gaps in mental health care and gun policy that officials say need attention.
On Sunday, another former Marine, 40-year-old Thomas Sanford, drove a pickup into a Michigan Mormon church during services, opened fire and set the building ablaze, killing four people and wounding eight, authorities said.
What to Know
Authorities say Edge piloted a boat close to shore, stopped briefly and opened fire on patrons at a Southport waterfront bar. A charging document says an AR-style rifle fitted with a silencer and scope was used.
North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation Director Chip Hawley said investigators “got the confession” after Edge’s arrest but did not elaborate. Edge was arrested roughly 30 minutes later after a U.S. Coast Guard crew saw him pulling a boat from the water at a public ramp on Oak Island, where he lives. Five people remained hospitalized; officials have not released the victims’ identities.
Edge, who was born in Suffern, New York, changed his name from Sean DeBevoise in 2023. Court filings and local officials describe a history of legal disputes with town authorities and a series of lawsuits filed by Edge in recent years. Prosecutors and local officials say he told police he was injured in combat and suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder; District Attorney Jon David described Edge as having “significant mental health issues” tied to a traumatic brain injury.
Military records show Edge served from 2003-2009, with deployments to Iraq in 2005 and 2006, and that he received a Purple Heart and other decorations. His last assignment was with Wounded Warrior Battalion East at Camp Lejeune.
What Happens Next?
Prosecutors said they will review medical records, investigative material and other evidence as they decide whether to seek the death penalty. Edge requested a court-appointed attorney during Monday’s brief hearing and declined to comment. On October 13, judges and lawyers will address pretrial issues, bail and any motions from defense counsel. State and federal agencies assisting the probe have urged residents to avoid the area while investigators comb the scene and continue to gather forensic evidence and witness accounts.
Officials have signaled a careful, methodical approach: investigators are still determining motive and whether others were involved, and prosecutors will weigh mental health and service-related factors as they build their case.
Meanwhile, political leaders and public officials in North Carolina renewed calls for better mental health care and debated whether recent criminal justice measures go far enough to identify and intervene with people who pose a risk to public safety.
This article includes reporting by the Associated Press.