(AP) — A decorated Marine veteran charged with firing an assault rifle from a boat at a waterfront bar in North Carolina, killing three people and wounding five, appeared subdued in court Monday as prosecutors said they may seek the death penalty.

Nigel Edge, 40, a Purple Heart recipient whose last assignment was with a Wounded Warrior battalion, made his first court appearance via video link after Saturday’s mass shooting. He’s charged with murder, attempted murder and assault.

Law enforcement officers “got the confession” from the suspect following his arrest, said North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation Director Chip Hawley at a news conference Monday. He did not elaborate.

Five people remained hospitalized from the violence in Southport, a historic port town about 30 miles (48 kilometers) south of Wilmington. None of the victims’ identities have been released.

On Sunday, another 40-year-old former Marine crashed a pickup into a Michigan church during services, shot into the building and set it ablaze, killing four people and wounding eight. It was the second mass shooting in the U.S. in less than 24 hours.

District Attorney Jon David said his office had yet to review medical records but described Edge as having “significant mental health issues” after experiencing a traumatic brain injury, according to WECT News.

Authorities said Edge piloted a boat close to shore, stopped briefly and opened fire at a crowd of vacationers and other patrons in what Southport Police Chief Todd Coring called a “highly premeditated” targeted attack.

He was arrested about a half an hour later after a U.S. Coast Guard crew spotted him pulling a boat from the water at a public ramp on Oak Island, where he lives.

Edge requested a court-appointed attorney and declined to comment during his appearance in Brunswick County Court, WECT News reported. He showed no obvious emotion as the district attorney said his office would review whether the death penalty is appropriate.

No plea was entered. Edge was ordered to remain in custody pending his next court hearing, scheduled for Oct. 13.

Edge, who was born in Suffern, N.Y., and changed his name from Sean DeBevoise in 2023.