Ex-Officer Arrested En Route to New Orleans Jazz Fest Over Mass-Shoot Threat
Ex-Officer Arrested En Route to New Orleans Jazz Fest Over Mass-Shoot Threat
A former North Carolina police officer was arrested in Florida on terroristic threats charges after authorities say he planned a mass shooting at New Orleans Jazz Fest, with weapons recovered.
A former North Carolina police officer was arrested in Destin, Florida, on charges of making terroristic threats after authorities say he planned to carry out a mass shooting at a major festival in Louisiana. Christopher Gillum, 41, of Chapel Hill, was taken into custody without incident late Wednesday night at a Destin hotel as federal and local investigators closed in on the suspect. The Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office said the arrest was the result of cooperation with federal authorities and that officers recovered 200 rounds of ammunition and a handgun from his hotel room. Gillum is expected to be extradited to Louisiana to face state charges related to the threats.
Gillum previously served as a sworn police officer in Chapel Hill from 2006 to 2019, and later worked as a detention officer from 2024 until his resignation in September 2025. His family had reported him missing earlier this week, describing a history of self-harm and troubling statements about harming Black people. Authorities did not name the exact festival in initial releases, but the case centers on a planned attack targeting a large festival in New Orleans, commonly associated with the Jazz & Heritage Festival.
The arrest occurred as New Orleans Jazz Fest was approaching, with officials noting the serious risk such plans posed to public safety at large events. The Sheriff’s Office credited federal authorities and local deputies for acting quickly to prevent potential violence and stressed the ongoing investigation into Gillum’s motives and any accomplices. Meanwhile, officials urged festival-goers and residents to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity as the investigation continues.
