SOUTHPORT, N.C. (WBTW) — The man suspected of killing three people and injuring five others Saturday night at American Fish Company acted alone in a “highly premeditated” attack, authorities said.

Nigel Max Edge is charged with three counts of murder and five counts of attempted murder ahead of an initial court appearance Monday. Brunswick County District Attorney Jon David said his office hasn’t ruled out the death penalty.

“Evil has come ashore in Southport, North Carolina. The thin veneer of peace and tranquility which has enveloped this waterfront community was shattered last night,” David said at a news conference.

Police were called to the area around 9:30 p.m. Saturday for reports of shots fired from a white boat that had left the scene. A U.S. Coast Guard patrol stopped a vessel matching the shooter’s description near the Oak Island Bridge about 30 minutes later.

Edge was then detained.

Authorities have not yet identified victims pending notification of relatives, but David said several were visiting the area and enjoying an evening of live music under the stars when Edge opened fire with an assault rifle.

“When we arrived last night, it was a very chaotic scene. We had people that had fled the scene before officers were arriving. We did have some injured that walked into our local hospital,” Southport Police Chief Todd Coring said.

Featured in the 2013 movie “Safe Haven,” Southport — located about 30 minutes from Wilmington — has a year-round population of less than 4,000 but attracts up to 50,000 visitors annually.

“We have close-knit community here. I certainly do not want this incident to define who we are,” Oak Island police chief Charles A. Morris II said. “This is a person that acted alone.”

Coring said Edge “self-identified” as a combat veteran with PTSD who was known to local police, but had no major criminal history.

Officials said Edge used an assault rifle in a targeted and “very premediated” attack.