A terrible story unfolded Saturday night in Southport, North Carolina, when someone aboard a boat opened fire on diners at the American Fish Company. Witnesses described chaos and confusion as people ducked for cover and emergency crews rushed in. Local authorities say multiple victims were shot and at least three people were killed.
Details are still emerging and officials have cautioned the public to wait for confirmed information. Early reports paint a grim scene at the Southport Yacht Basin where a popular dockside restaurant sits. Investigators have already launched a wide-ranging response to piece together what happened and why.
Information is still coming out as of this writing, but it is a disturbing scene:
The attacker fled up the Intracoastal Waterway toward Oak Island. Police, SBI, ATF, and Brunswick County officials are leading a massive manhunt.
Authorities urge anyone with information to contact Southport Police at 910-457-7911.
Although details are scant, here’s what we know at this hour:
Numerous shots were fired from a passing boat into a crowd on Saturday night in a shooting that killed three people and injured multiple others, according to reports.
Officials said the unidentified vessel pulled up to the American Fish Company restaurant in Southport Yacht Basin at around 9:30 p.m. and opened fire into the crowd of unsuspecting diners, according to local coverage.
The boat then took off up the Intracoastal Waterway with no suspects having been captured as of 10:30 p.m., according to City Manager Noah Saldo.
Emergency responders converged on the scene within minutes, treating victims and securing the area. Eyewitness accounts describe frantic people trying to help those who were wounded while others called 911 for help. Law enforcement put out alerts and coordinated with county and federal agencies to begin a shoreline and water search.
Authorities have not confirmed any arrests, and they warned residents to stay inside as the search continued into the night. The city asked people to avoid the yacht basin and to remain in their homes while officers canvassed the area. Officials emphasized the importance of reporting any suspicious activity immediately so investigators can follow leads.
Social posts and local channels spread images and video from the scene, adding to the confusion but also offering potential leads for investigators. People in the area said they heard series of gunshots and then saw a boat speeding away from the dock. Residents described the boat as a white center console craft that arrived, discharged rounds into the crowd, and fled north along the Intracoastal Waterway.
They wrote in a Facebook post just before 10pm: ‘There are reports of an active shooter in the Southport Yacht Basin.
‘There is an unknown number of injuries. Avoid the area and remain in your homes.
‘Please report any suspicious activity immediately to 911.’
The boat was described as a ‘white center console boat.’
The Brunswick County Sheriff’s Office confirmed on social media that they were assisting the city of Southport with the incident.
Investigators are likely collecting surveillance video from nearby businesses, eyewitness statements, and any trace evidence left at the dock. Boats, docks, and marinas present unique challenges for crime scene work, but they also often have cameras and witnesses that can speed up identification. Agencies including state bureaus and federal teams typically join local police in incidents with multiple victims and a suspect who escaped by water.
Medical teams from regional hospitals were mobilized to receive and triage victims, and community members started organizing ways to support those affected. Local leaders urged calm while promising a thorough and transparent investigation. Those with information about the incident have been asked to come forward immediately so investigators can act quickly.
The police presence in and around Southport was massive and visible, with law enforcement moving methodically through the marina and nearby neighborhoods. Roadblocks and perimeter searches are common in the early hours of a manhunt, and officials said they would update the public as verifiable facts emerged. For now, families of the injured and the community at large are left waiting for answers and grieving for those lost.
As authorities pursue leads, the community is coping with shock and sorrow while support networks mobilize for victims and first responders. Local relief groups and faith communities often step in after these tragedies to offer counseling and practical help to families. Citizens are being asked to respect the investigation and to avoid sharing unverified material that could hamper law enforcement efforts.
There has been a disturbing run of high profile violence nationally in recent weeks, and this shooting adds a painful local chapter to that pattern. At this stage there is no information linking this attack to politics or any organized group, and investigators are focused on who carried out the attack and why. Our thoughts are with the victims and their loved ones, and we will continue to update this story as officials release new information.
