A tragic incident occurred at a North Carolina marina on Saturday night, resulting in the death of three individuals and injuries to eight others when someone aboard a boat fired upon diners at a waterfront establishment, according to a city official.
The boat came to a stop in front of the American Fish Company at Southport Yacht Basin, where a gunman discharged a weapon, stated ChyAnn Ketchum, the city of Southport’s spokesperson.
Details on the conditions of the injured were unavailable.
Following the attack, the shooter made an escape towards the nearby Intracoastal Waterway, Ketchum informed. Authorities were questioning a person of interest late Saturday, as mentioned by the spokesperson.
An earlier report about an active shooter at the marina led to a substantial law enforcement presence. The city of Southport released a statement advising residents in the vicinity to “stay indoors” and to immediately call 911 if they noticed anyone suspicious.
The Brunswick County Sheriff’s Office said that it is one of multiple law enforcement agencies in the region that responded to the incident.
“Please keep all those affected, as well as our first responders, in your thoughts and prayers,” the sheriff’s office said.
The yacht basin is situated in the southeastern part of the state, at the meeting point of the Intracoastal Waterway, Cape Fear River, and Atlantic Ocean, as described by the state tourism organization Visit North Carolina.
The basin is lined with restaurants, it says.
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
