North Carolina shooting: Passing boat opens fire at Southport eatery; 3 dead, 8 injured

Passing boat opens fire at Southport eatery (Picture credit: X)

Three people were killed and eight others injured after a shooter opened fire from a passing boat at a popular waterfront restaurant in Southport, North Carolina, on Saturday night, authorities said.According to the New York Post, the incident took place around 9:30 pm (local time) at the American Fish Company, located in the Southport Yacht Basin along the Intracoastal Waterway. Officials said the unidentified vessel pulled up to the dockside restaurant and fired into a crowd of diners before fleeing the scene, prompting an “active shooter” alert for the area, as per Daily Mail.“One person of interest is being questioned in relation to the deadly incident,” city officials were quoted as saying by Star News, though no arrests have been confirmed as of Saturday night. The boat was described as a “white center console” vessel.Southport town authorities issued urgent warnings for residents to stay indoors and report any suspicious activity. A city Facebook post said, “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”, reported CBS 17. American Fish Company, which often features live music, had the band Bacon Grease scheduled to perform from 7 to 10 pm on Saturday. The restaurant bills itself as one of Southport’s “favorite hangouts”.Authorities, including the Brunswick County Sheriff’s Office and the Southport Police Department, are coordinating the response, along with multiple other law enforcement agencies across the county. “Please keep all those affected, as well as our first responders, in your thoughts and prayers,” the sheriff’s office said in a statement, as cited by CBS 17.Southport, located along the Cape Fear River near Fort Fisher, is about 10 miles southwest of Wilmington. The investigation is ongoing as law enforcement works to determine the circumstances of the shooting and locate any additional suspects.