Crime
Alleged Southport Yacht Basin Suspect Sean DeBevoise Wrote Memoir Headshot: Betrayal of a Nation (Truth Hurts)
SOUTHPORT, N.C. — Authorities are continuing to investigate Saturday night’s mass shooting at the Southport Yacht Basin, where a gunman opened fire from a boat positioned along the Cape Fear River, killing three people and injuring at least nine others before fleeing toward Oak Island.
While law enforcement has not formally released the suspect’s identity, multiple reports have linked the name Nigel Max Edge, formerly known as Sean William DeBevoise, to the case.
A person matching the description of the shooter was detained shortly after the incident and is currently in custody for questioning, according to Southport Public Information Officer ChyAnn Ketchum.
Sean William DeBevoise, who later adopted the name Nigel Edge, is a former U.S. Marine who enlisted following the September 11th attacks.
Military records and personal accounts indicate that he served multiple deployments, including three tours in Afghanistan and a mission to Haiti.
In 2020, DeBevoise published a memoir titled “Headshot: Betrayal of a Nation (Truth Hurts)”. In the book, he recounts his upbringing in New York State, his passion for hunting in the Catskill Mountains with his father, and his pursuit of honor and service. He describes his wrestling years in high school, where he met his future wife Rachel, before joining the Marines.
The memoir details his combat deployment to Iraq in 2005, where he claims he was severely injured in what he describes as a friendly-fire incident. According to DeBevoise’s account, he was struck by four bullets, including one to the head, leaving him with lasting physical and psychological wounds. He alleges he was abandoned by fellow Marines in a warehouse, left to die after killing insurgents in combat.
DeBevoise’s writing conveys both a survivor’s determination and a deep distrust of the institutions he once served. He accuses the U.S. military of betrayal and asserts that his injuries were the result of jealousy and internal conflict rather than the enemy.
Beyond his memoir, DeBevoise—under the name Nigel Edge—became known for a series of unconventional legal filings. Federal court records show he represented himself in multiple lawsuits, many of which were dismissed.
His claims have included allegations of:
Being kidnapped and given a false identity and “planted family.”
Repeated attempts on his life through poisoning of both himself and his dog.
Being forced into sex trafficking, and naming figures such as Jeffrey Epstein, the LGBTQ community, and elements of the U.S. government and military in his accusations.
Tampering by North Carolina law enforcement in relation to his personal cases.
Medical neglect and interference, including altered prescriptions and encouragement of suicide, which he attributed to a “white supremacy–linked LGBTQ network.”
On social media, DeBevoise frequently expressed anger and frustration over what he described as a coordinated effort to silence him.
He also sought public donations to purchase a boat, which he later used for personal ventures.
On the night of the Southport Yacht shooting, witnesses reported a boat lingering in the water for nearly an hour across from the American Fish Company restaurant before gunfire erupted at approximately 9:30 p.m.
The assailant opened fire on patrons at the restaurant, leaving three dead and several injured, before fleeing up the Intracoastal Waterway.
The U.S. Coast Guard later intercepted a suspect matching the shooter’s description at the NE 55th Street public boat ramp in Oak Island.
A spotted dog seen onboard matched images posted previously on DeBevoise’s (Nigel Edge’s) social media.
Sean DeBevoise once attended the 2012 CMT Awards as country singer Kellie Pickler’s date. In later years, he filed a lawsuit against Pickler, alleging that she had attempted to kill him.
Authorities confirmed that the suspect is in custody, though they have not yet released his official identity.
The investigation is ongoing, with the Southport Police Department, State Bureau of Investigation, Brunswick County Sheriff’s Office, and federal agencies involved.
Southport Police Chief Todd Coring confirmed that four gunshot victims were transported to Novant New Hanover Regional Medical Center in Wilmington and two others to Dosher Memorial Hospital in Southport.
Southport Public Information Officer ChyAnn Ketchum emphasized that the case remains in the “immediate response stage” and that formal announcements regarding the suspect’s identity and charges will be made directly by the city.
Crime
Aleksandr Aleksand Shablykin Fatally Stabs Mother Zoya Shablykin and Three Others at Key Peninsula Home
Five people, including the suspect, are dead following a violent stabbing incident and subsequent deputy-involved shooting Tuesday morning in the 14000 block of 87th Avenue Court Northwest near Gig Harbor, according to the Pierce County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO).
Authorities identified the suspect as 32-year-old Aleksandr Aleksand Shablykin.
Investigators say the incident began as a reported protection order violation and escalated into a deadly stabbing attack in a residential cul-de-sac.
Dispatchers received the first 911 call at approximately 8:41 a.m. reporting an “order violation in progress.” According to the sheriff’s office, an adult male had gone to a residence despite a no-contact protection order involving a female occupant of the home.
Deputies later clarified that although a protection order had been granted, it had not yet been formally served to the suspect and therefore was not legally enforceable at the time.
Deputies were en route to serve the order when the situation rapidly escalated.
At approximately 9:30 a.m., additional emergency calls reported that the man was actively stabbing individuals outside the home. Witnesses described a chaotic scene, with at least one victim attacked in the middle of the street in front of multiple bystanders.
A deputy arrived on scene minutes later.
According to Officer Shelbie Boyd, spokesperson for the Pierce County Force Investigation Team (PCFIT), gunfire was reported at 9:33 a.m.
“We have the adult male suspect who was shot by the deputy,” Boyd said during a press briefing.
Shablykin was pronounced dead at the scene.
Authorities have not yet released specific details regarding the exchange of gunfire but confirmed that the investigation remains active.
Deputies located four adult victims at the scene.
Three were pronounced dead at the residence. A fourth victim was transported to a nearby hospital in critical condition but later succumbed to their injuries.
One of the victims was identified as 52-year-old Zoya Shablykin, the suspect’s mother.
Authorities stated that relationships between the suspect and the additional victims remain under investigation.
Witness accounts suggest that neighbors may have intervened in an attempt to stop the attack.
Court records linked to the residence show that in April 2025, Zoya Shablykin petitioned for a protection order against her adult son. The order was granted in May.
In her petition, she alleged ongoing threats, harassment, and erratic behavior, including prior physical aggression. The filing referenced concerns about his mental health and stated he had previously pushed and threatened her.
The protection order prohibited the son from possessing weapons and from coming within 1,000 feet of his mother, her home, vehicle, or workplace. The order also required him to comply with a treatment plan and prescribed medications.
Investigators confirmed that although the order had been approved by the court, it had not yet been formally served to the suspect at the time of the incident. Deputies were attempting to serve the documentation when the stabbing occurred.
Court records indicate Shablykin had multiple prior contacts with law enforcement dating back to 2020, primarily involving traffic-related offenses, including driving without a valid license and refusing to identify himself during traffic stops. Records reflect at least 14 separate cases. A 2023 trespassing charge was dismissed.
A family acquaintance told media outlets that other immediate family members were not present at the residence during the attack and were safe elsewhere at the time of the incident.
The Pierce County Sheriff’s Office and the Pierce County Force Investigation Team are continuing to investigate both the stabbing deaths and the deputy-involved shooting. Authorities have not yet released the names of the additional victims pending notification of next of kin.
Officials described the event as a tragic escalation of a domestic situation that unfolded rapidly despite law enforcement response efforts.
Further updates are expected as the investigation proceeds.