Three people were killed and eight others wounded when a shooter opened fire from a boat into a crowded waterfront bar in North Carolina, police said Tuesday, prompting a multiagency search and renewed scrutiny of safety at riverside and coastal entertainment venues. Authorities described the scene as chaotic, with patrons fleeing into the night as gunfire echoed from the water.

"At this time, we have three fatalities and eight people receiving treatment at local hospitals," a police statement read. Investigators said the gunfire originated on a small vessel alongside the shore and that the shooter fled the area by boat. Officers canvassed the shoreline and reviewed surveillance footage as the search for the vessel and any suspect continued. Police asked anyone with video or information to come forward.

Emergency responders transported the wounded to area hospitals; officials did not immediately release the victims' names or the severity of their injuries. Local medical centers said they were coordinating trauma care and had activated emergency protocols to handle multiple gunshot victims. Municipal leaders expressed shock and sorrow, and local officials warned that businesses along the waterfront would remain closed as investigators processed the scene.

Shootings that involve rounds fired from boats are uncommon, complicating the immediate investigative response. Law enforcement officials noted that the incident raises questions of jurisdiction, since responsibility for crimes on navigable waters can involve municipal police, the county sheriff, and federal agencies such as the Coast Guard or the FBI if a vessel crosses into broader waterways or interstate borders. "We are working with our federal partners to determine where the crime occurred and who should lead the investigation," a law enforcement official said.

The attack has prompted concerns about public safety at waterfront gathering places that rely on summer tourism and late-night activity. Outdoor and waterfront bars are central to many coastal economies; a single high-profile violent incident can depress visitor demand, raise insurance and security costs, and create longer-term reputational effects for a town that depends on hospitality revenue.

Beyond the local fallout, the shooting feeds into larger national debates about gun policy and public safety. The United States records roughly 48,000 firearm deaths annually, including homicides and suicides, and public mass shootings continue to spur calls for stricter measures ranging from universal background checks to limits on high-capacity magazines. Experts say venues with both land and water access present unique vulnerabilities and may require tailored safety planning, including enhanced surveillance, coordinated emergency evacuation routes, and stronger communication between maritime and land-based responders.

For now, the priority for officials is identification of the boat and suspect and care for the victims and their families. Community leaders have planned vigils and outreach to support those affected. As investigators piece together the motive and sequence of events, the episode has already revived urgent discussions about how to protect patrons in complex, high-traffic waterfront environments and how policy and policing must adapt to unusual but devastating forms of firearm violence.