Southport officials call for stronger mental health services after mass shooting

SOUTHPORT, NC (WWAY-TV) — Suspected Southport shooter, Nigel Edge, is expected to appear in court Monday.  The marine veteran was wounded in combat and struggled with PTSD.

Southport’s Frying Pan and other yacht basin restaurants have reopened for business two weeks after the mass shooting, but preventing further incidents like this is a big focus for city leaders.

Mayor Rich Alt and fellow aldermen are pushing a resolution. They are demanding state and federal lawmakers improve and expand mental health services for veterans and others with mental health illnesses.

“We run into this problem all the time, this is not unique to North Carolina,  it’s across the country,” Alt said. “There’s no immediate ability to call someone who is a mental health specialist.”

The Southport Board of Aldermen met earlier this week and some at the meeting demanded red flag laws that would allow weapons to be confiscated from those considered mentally ill.