The alleged gunman behind the deadly shooting at a dockside restaurant in North Carolina over the weekend was once country superstar Kellie Pickler’s date to the CMT Music Awards.

Nigel Edge, who changed his name from Sean DeBevoise, was seen alongside the American Idol star in his Marine uniform, as confirmed by a post shared on his X account.

He even tagged her with the caption, ‘Me and my date!’ for the CMT Awards. As per an article from 2012 Taste of Country, DeBevoise was a marine that got severely injured during his 2006 deployment to Iraq.

‘I’m so ecstatic about being here at the CMT Music Awards with Kellie’- he shared with the outlet. ‘She is the most sincere person that I know’- he continued. He also dubbed her a true angel from all angles.

Eddge is accused of killing three people and injuring eight more at the American Fish Company Salon in Southport on Saturday night. He faces three counts of first-degree murder and five counts of attempted murder, according to the Southport Police Chief.

As per authorities, his crime was a targeted shooting that he solely carried out as a lone gunman despite unclear motives as the investigation continues.