Dane Britt

The suspected gunman who killed 3 people and left 5 injured after he shot up a waterfront bar and restaurant in North Carolina Saturday night appears to have scoped the site out the night before the attack ... and there's video evidence.

Check out the clip ... an eyewitness tells TMZ the accused killer Nigel Edge can be seen floating about 20 yards away from the American Fish Company in Southport, located on the Cape Fear River. Play video content

A person -- apparently Edge -- is behind the wheel of a white center console motorboat with the phrase "Game On" emblazoned on the side. The whole vessel is dark aside from the navigational lights on the bow. Something spooks him ... and he ducks down and slowly heads out of the area. Dane Britt

Southport Police Chief To

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