Former military veteran Sean William DeBevoise, also known as Nigel Max Edge, is reportedly the suspect in the Southport, North Carolina shooting that left three people dead and at least eight others injured. DeBevoise has a history of filing unusual lawsuits and self-publishing a book on Amazon accusing the military of betraying him.
The shooting occurred around 9:30 p.m. near a popular row of restaurants and bars along the Southport waterfront, a historic port town roughly 30 miles (48 kilometers) south of Wilmington. According to reports, the suspect drove a small boat along the coast, paused briefly, fired into the crowd, and then sped away.
About 30 minutes later, a U.S. Coast Guard team spotted someone matching the suspect’s description dragging a boat at a public ramp on nearby Oak Island. Authorities later confirmed that the individual was taken into custody and handed over to Southport police for questioning.
Officials have not released details regarding the suspect’s identity or the motive behind the attack. Investigators from multiple agencies, including the Coast Guard and the State Bureau of Investigation, remained on site Sunday to collect evidence and speak with witnesses.
Social media identifies suspect as Sean William DeBevoise
Following Saturday night’s shooting, authorities continue to question the suspect. Meanwhile, social media users have identified the alleged shooter as a former military veteran and local fisherman with a history of unusual legal claims.
Background on DeBevoise
According to social media, DeBevoise, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran who legally changed his name to Nigel Max Edge (or Nigel Edge), lives in Oak Island, North Carolina, and is approximately 40 years old.
DeBevoise deployed to Iraq in 2006, where he reportedly suffered severe traumatic brain injuries, including a potential gunshot wound to the head, resulting in diagnoses of schizophrenia and other cognitive disorders.
Public records and social media note that he self-published a book on Amazon titled “Headshot-Betrayal of a Nation (Truth Hurts)”, filed multiple lawsuits, and publicly shared claims of alleged conspiracies, including a “white supremacist LGBTQ pedophile ring” supposedly targeting him.
The Amazon description of his book reads:
“After the attacks of 9/11, Sean knew that his only course of action was to serve his country. Joining the Marines, he found a mental and physical challenge that he planned to excel at. Although he sensed the behavior and many things said by fellow Marines to be disturbing, he willingly deployed to Iraq where he encountered a war-zone that would rip his body to shreds. Taking four bullets including one to the head, Sean’s life would never be the same, but it was the fact that all of this was at the hand of friendly fire that would provide the most crippling mental damage.
Sean killed insurgents on that fateful day when he was locked in a warehouse and left to die by his own men. Returning home, the nightmare seemed to become even more horrifying. Although he has worked tirelessly to recover the use of his body and to reclaim his life from those who did everything in their power to take it from him, he still grapples with a mysterious story that the US military doesn’t want you to know.”
DeBevoise, a wounded veteran, reportedly raised around $18,488 through a GoFundMe campaign to purchase a fishing boat and launch a small fishing business. In a campaign video, he discussed growing up in New City, New York, and how the events of 9/11 influenced his decision to enlist in the military while he was a junior in high school.
