Former law enforcement officer arrested in alleged mass shooting plot at New Orleans festival

A North Carolina man and former law enforcement officer is in custody after authorities say he was preparing to carry out a mass shooting at a major festival in New Orleans.

Christopher Gillum, 45, was arrested Wednesday night at a hotel in Destin, Florida, after investigators tracked his vehicle to the area. Officials say he was wanted in Louisiana on charges of making terroristic threats. Law enforcement agencies across multiple states had been working together to locate him. Earlier alerts from North Carolina described Gillum as a missing person who could pose a danger to himself and others. Authorities also said family members warned he was armed and had made disturbing statements, including threats targeting Black individuals.

According to the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office, “Authorities obtained information Gillum planned to travel to a festival in New Orleans to conduct a mass shooting and then commit suicide by cop.” Deputies took Gillum into custody without incident and reported finding a handgun along with roughly 200 rounds of ammunition in his hotel room. He is currently being held in Florida as he awaits extradition to Louisiana.

Gillum previously served as a police officer in Chapel Hill from 2004 until resigning in 2019. He later returned briefly in a non-sworn role in 2024 before leaving again. He also held positions with the Orange County Sheriff’s Office in recent years.

While officials have not confirmed which event was allegedly targeted, the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival begins this week and draws hundreds of thousands of attendees annually. In response to the arrest, festival organizers said, “Jazz Fest is grateful to all law enforcement partners for their dedication and exceptional service in protecting our community. As always, we coordinate closely with the FBI, Louisiana State Police, NOPD, NOCEM, and other agencies, and we will continue to do so as we look forward to another safe and joyful Jazz Fest.”

Louisiana State Police emphasized that the investigation remains ongoing in coordination with the FBI and noted that “there are no known direct threats to any festivals in Louisiana.” Officials credited coordinated police work and technology, including license plate recognition systems, with helping locate Gillum before any violence could occur.

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