In late September 2025, the historic port town of Southport, North Carolina, was shaken by a tragic mass shooting at the American Fish Company, a popular waterfront restaurant, allegedly at the hands of Sean William DeBevoise. Three people lost their lives, and at least eight others were wounded when a gunman opened fire from a single-engine boat in the Yacht Basin before speeding away into the night. In the aftermath, a single name, Nigel Max Edge, began circulating on social media as the person of interest detained by authorities. But to understand who this person is, you first have to know the man he was before: Sean William DeBevoise.
The story of DeBevoise is one of a life marked by service, severe trauma, and a complex, public unraveling. He was a former U.S. Marine, a wounded veteran, and an author whose life took a series of dark turns, leading to a vast and confusing digital footprint of lawsuits, conspiracy allegations, and a self-published book that detailed his feelings of betrayal.
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A Marine’s Journey and a Life Altered by War
Sean DeBevoise’s path to the military was shaped by a pivotal moment in American history. He was a junior in high school in New City, New York, when the 9/11 attacks occurred in 2001, an event that he said solidified his decision to enlist. He joined the Marines and served as a sharpshooter, with deployments to Haiti and Iraq. It was during his 2006 deployment in Iraq that his life was irrevocably changed. He suffered significant traumatic brain injuries from combat, including what is believed to be a gunshot wound to the head. In a GoFundMe video, he claimed he was shot four times and still had shrapnel throughout his body and head.
The physical wounds were only part of the story. He was later diagnosed with schizophrenia and cognitive dysfunction as a result of his traumatic brain injuries. The psychological impact was compounded by a profound sense of betrayal. In his self-published book, Headshot: Betrayal of a Nation (Truth Hurts), he claimed that his injuries were the result of friendly fire, alleging he was “locked in a warehouse and left to die by his own men.” This sense of being wronged by the institution he served would become a central theme in his life after the military.
A New Identity and a Descent into Legal Battles and Conspiracy Theories
After returning home, Sean William DeBevoise legally changed his name to Nigel Max Edge. He settled in Oak Island, North Carolina, and attempted to build a new life. He started a GoFundMe campaign, raising nearly $18,500 to buy a fishing boat and launch a fishing business. Authorities believe the single-engine boat used in the Southport shooting was the same one funded by that campaign.
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However, his public life became dominated by erratic and troubling behavior. He filed a series of lawsuits against various individuals and institutions, including doctors, alleging they conspired to block his access to medical care and legal justice. His online posts and legal filings increasingly revolved around elaborate conspiracy theories. He repeatedly claimed he was the target of a “white supremacist LGBTQ p***phile ring.”
These claims were part of a broader federal lawsuit he filed, which named a long list of defendants, including the United States government, his parents, and various police departments. In that suit, he made fantastical allegations, including that his parents were “LGBQT White Supremacist P***philes” who had falsified his birth certificate and kidnapped him as a child. A judge dismissed this lawsuit in its entirety in March 2025.
His troubles also briefly touched the world of celebrity. He was once linked to country music artist Kellie Pickler, accompanying her to the 2012 CMT Awards. Their relationship was short-lived, and he later sued her, alleging she had tried to take his life.
🚨UPDATE: The alleged shooter at Southport Yacht Basin in North Carolina, Nigel Max Edge (formerly Sean DeBevoise), was Country Singer Kellie Pickler’s date to the 2012 CMT Awards.
Nigel Max Edge would later sue Pickler after he claims she attempted to murder him… pic.twitter.com/JmpcexadOP
— Algovich (@Algovich_) September 28, 2025
As of September 28, 2025, the official investigation into the Southport shooting continues. While a person of interest is in custody, authorities have not officially confirmed the identity of the shooter, stating that they are still questioning the detained individual. The story that has emerged from social media and public records is a deeply complex one. It is the story of a man who went from being a Marine named Sean William DeBevoise to a figure known as Nigel Max Edge—a veteran who struggled with the severe physical and mental wounds of war, and whose story ended in an act of violence that left a community in mourning.
