A man who unleashed a barrage of gunfire at a bustling dockside restaurant, resulting in the deaths of three individuals, has been identified as a decorated Marine and a Purple Heart recipient, who completed two tours in Iraq, according to official sources.
Authorities have named Nigel Edge — previously known as Sean DeBevoise until a name change in 2023 — as the individual responsible. Between September 2003 and June 2009, Edge earned numerous honors during his tenure in the Marine Corps, as disclosed by a military spokesperson to The Post.
As a sergeant, Edge received the prestigious Purple Heart for being wounded in combat, noted the spokesperson.
In addition, he was honored with the Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal, Combat Action Ribbon, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, Iraq Campaign Medal with two bronze stars, Humanitarian Service Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, and National Defense Service Medal, as per reports.
At the age of 39, Edge took part in Operation Iraqi Freedom, completing two extended deployments to the conflict-ridden nation during 2005 and 2006, according to authorities.
His final post was at the Wounded Warrior Battalion East situated at Camp Lejeune, a facility dedicated to providing rehabilitation, counseling, and recovery support for military members injured in combat.
Additonally, North Carolina authorities have stated that Edge, a combat veteran, had been allegedly grappling with PTSD.
On Saturday evening, Edge was arrested for allegedly shooting into a crowd at the American Fish Company restaurant located in Southport Yacht Basin, roughly 30 miles south of Wilmington, as stated by officials.
The gunfire resulted in three fatalities and eight injuries, with one of the wounded victims in critical condition, according to authorities’ statements made to reporters on Sunday.
Edge was armed with a short-barreled AR rifle featuring a suppressor, folding stock, and scope, as detailed in court documents.
He faces multiple serious charges, including three counts of first-degree murder, five counts of attempted first-degree murder, and five counts of assault with a deadly weapon.
While a clear motive remains elusive, law enforcement officials have labeled the shooting as “highly premeditated.”
After leaving his esteemed military career, Edge seemed to have descended into a state of paranoia, developing into a conspiracy theorist.
Documents indicate that the once-acclaimed Marine initiated a series of unusual lawsuits in North Carolina earlier this year.
One claim, filed in May, alleged that the Generations Church was involved in a “civil conspiracy” led by the LGBTQ community and white supremacist pedophiles aiming to eliminate Edge for being “a straight man.”
In another suit filed in January against Brunswick Medical Center, Edge accused the facility of participating in a conspiracy orchestrated by “LGBTQ White Supremacists” targeting him due to a previous attack he survived in Iraq.
The strange lawsuits were ultimately dismissed with prejudice, as revealed by court records.
In a book he authored while identified as DeBevoise titled “Headshot: Betrayal of a Nation,” Edge made sensational claims of having been shot four times, including in the head, by friendly fire amid an international conspiracy.
The Marine recounted being injured in two separate IED incidents during his 2006 Iraq tour, in addition to sustaining a bullet wound that lodged shrapnel in his skull.
In 2012, he was seen alongside “American Idol” star Kellie Pickler at the Country Music Awards, representing a stark contrast to his current situation.
Currently, Edge is being held at the Brunswick County Detention Center without bail as reflected in court files.
He is scheduled to make an initial court appearance on Monday.
