Police are investigating a deadly shooting in Southport, North Carolina. Photo: AP PHOTO

Three people are dead and at least eight others are wounded after a person opened fire from a boat into a crowd gathered at a waterfront bar in a coastal town in North Carolina.

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The shooting erupted late Saturday local time (Sunday AEST) near a popular stretch of bars and restaurants on Southport's waterfront, a historic port town about 48km south of Wilmington.

Investigators said the assailant piloted a small boat close to shore, stopped briefly and fired into the crowd before speeding away.

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