A defense attorney representing a man suspected of murdering three people and injuring several others last year in South Port requested more time for another evaluation to see if he is competent, WECT reported.
Nigel Edge is charged with three counts of first-degree murder, five counts of attempted first-degree murder and five counts of assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill inflicting serious injury.
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According to Southport Police Chief Todd Coring, Edge was on a boat on Sept. 27, 2025, before opening fire at patrons at the American Fish Company in Southport. The boat fled in the direction of Oak Island, where the Coast Guard took Edge into custody after someone reported seeing him match the shooter's description at a public boat ramp.
WECT reported Edge appeared Friday in court for a Rule 24 hearing in Brunswick County. A Rule 24 hearing is a mandatory pretrial conference in all capital cases where the court determines if the state will seek the death penalty.
Edge was walking with a limp and had a brace on his left leg, according to a WECT reporter in the courtroom.
At the hearing, the defense filed a motion to continue due to wanting time for another evaluation to see if he is competent and gather more information before making “a decision of this magnitude.”
District Attorney Jon David told WECT that his office was surprised by the motion and he believes there was enough notice ahead of the hearing, but he did not object to Edge being evaluated again.
According to David, Edge has already been evaluated twice. According to David, at least one doctor said Edge was “unlikely to regain competence”.
According to investigators, Edge is an Iraq War veteran with mental health issues. In the state of North Carolina, someone cannot be sentenced to death if they are deemed mentally incompetent.
The judge approved the motion to continue and ordered Edge to get another evaluation through the state.
Edge is set to appear in court again on April 7.
