Police: Deadly shooting in North Carolina was highly premeditated' and location was targeted'

"SOUTHPORT, N.C. (AP) A shooting at a picturesque, seaside town in North Carolina that left three people dead and five others injured was a highly premeditated attack, police said Sunday. Police Chief Todd Coring said at a press conference Sunday that Nigel Edge of Oak Island is accused of opening fire from a boat into a crowd gathered at American Fish Company in Southport. Coring said the location was targeted but did not elaborate."

"The shooting, which erupted about 9:30 p.m. Saturday, took place along a popular stretch of bars and restaurants in the historic port town about 30 miles (48 kilometers) south of Wilmington. Investigators said Edge piloted a small boat close to shore, stopped briefly, fired, and then sped away. 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."

"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 said, referring to post-traumatic stress disorder. 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 public ramp on Oak Island. The person was detained and turned over to Southport police for questioning, officials said."

Three people were killed and five others wounded when a shooter opened fire from a small boat into a crowd at American Fish Company in Southport, North Carolina. The attack occurred about 9:30 p.m. along a popular stretch of bars and restaurants and was described by police as highly premeditated and targeted. Investigators say Nigel Edge of Oak Island piloted the boat close to shore, stopped briefly, fired into the crowd, and then sped away. Edge is charged with multiple counts of first-degree murder, attempted murder and assault with a deadly weapon, is being held without bond, and is scheduled to appear in court. A Coast Guard crew detained a person matching the suspect's description at an Oak Island boat ramp and turned him over to Southport police. At least one hospitalized victim is clinging to life while investigators from multiple agencies collect evidence and interview witnesses.

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