Competency concerns delay death penalty decision in Southport mass shooting
BOLIVIA, NC (WWAY) — Questions about a defendant’s mental competency are delaying key decisions in a high-profile case tied to a 2025 mass shooting in Southport, according to Brunswick County District Attorney Jon David.
In a statement, David said a scheduled Rule 24 hearing, where prosecutors would announce whether they intend to seek the death penalty, has been postponed.
The delay comes after multiple mental health evaluations concluded that Nigel Max Edge is not currently competent to stand trial.
According to the district attorney, the defense submitted evaluations from two experts, while the state requested a third evaluation by an independent forensic examiner. All three found that Edge lacks the capacity to proceed to trial.
However, the state’s evaluator indicated Edge may be able to have his competency restored through treatment, including medication and counseling.
David said that while North Carolina law allows a Rule 24 hearing to proceed even when competency is in question, prosecutors determined it would not be appropriate to move forward at this time.
Judge Jason Disbrow ordered Edge to be transferred to safekeeping and then to Cherry Hospital for treatment aimed at restoring his competency. Officials said the timeline for that process is unknown and depends on how effective the treatment is.
David emphasized that Edge will remain in custody during the process.
The decision effectively pauses further court proceedings unless and until Edge is deemed competent to stand trial.
David acknowledged the community’s desire for answers following the September 27, 2025 incident, which he said disrupted a sense of safety in Southport.
The case stems from a mass shooting on September 27, 2025, at the American Fish Company in Southport, where three people were killed and multiple others were injured after shots were fired from a boat into a crowd.
Edge was later charged with three counts of first-degree murder and multiple counts of attempted murder in connection with the shooting.
David said the justice system requires a careful and deliberate process, especially when questions about a defendant’s mental competency remain unresolved.
“This is a marathon, not a sprint. The proceedings in this case will be slow, methodical, and deliberate, because that is what justice requires,” David said in a statement. “In the fullness of time, this community will have the resolution it deserves, but we must be willing to let the process work as it was designed to
work.”
Prosecutors have not yet made a decision on whether to pursue the death penalty, but David said that option remains on the table depending on the facts and the law.
The district attorney said his office will continue to evaluate the case as it moves forward, with a focus on justice for the victims, their families and the community.
