Ex-Marine to face death penalty in 2025 mass shooting at North Carolina
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[October 08, 2026]
BOLIVIA, N.C. (AP) — A prosecutor announced Wednesday that he
would seek the death penalty against a former Marine charged in a mass
shooting last year that left three people dead and several others
wounded.
“We are not blind to who this defendant is,” Brunswick County District
Attorney Jon David said of defendant Nigel Max Edge. “He served this
country in Iraq as a Marine, suffered a traumatic brain injury, and has
struggled with serious mental illness. Those facts are important and
they were weighed, but must be balanced against the circumstances of the
crime.” |
A man hugs a police officer in front of the American Fish Company
following a fatal shooting that occurred the night before, Sept. 28,
2025, in Southport, N.C. (AP Photo/Chris Seward, File) |
|
Authorities allege Edge piloted a small motorboat up to a
dockside cocktail bar in Southport on Sept. 27, 2025, and opened
fire with a short-barreled semiautomatic rifle. He faces three
counts of first-degree murder, as well as multiple attempted
murder and weapons charges.
In April, Superior Court Judge Jason Disbrow ordered Edge to
undergo psychiatric treatment after it was determined he was
unable to understand his legal proceedings enough to help his
lawyers.
Defense attorney Matthew Geoffrion filed a motion to continue
Wednesday’s hearing, arguing that the extent of Edge's brain
injury will likely make it impossible for him to stand trial.
Edge was shot multiple times during a firefight in Iraq,
including once in the head.
“The chances of capacity restoration in this case appear low,”
Geoffrion said in his motion.
David countered that experts at the state hospital where Edge is
being treated “have concluded he is likely to be restored.” But
he added that the decision to proceed with a capital punishment
case was not final.
“A capital designation guarantees the defendant the highest
level of protection our system offers, including the appointment
of a second qualified attorney and the most rigorous scrutiny
our courts provide,” David said. “If evidence emerges bearing on
Mr. Edge’s sanity at the time of the offense, we will reassess.
If he is never restored to capacity, the death penalty would not
be a lawful sentence and would be removed from consideration.”
Edge’s next hearing is scheduled for Dec. 7.
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