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An ex-police officer from North Carolina was taken into custody late Wednesday, accused of threatening a mass shooting at a festival in New Orleans, as reported by officials.
The Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office announced that 45-year-old Christopher Gillum was apprehended at a hotel in Destin, Florida, on Wednesday night.
Gillum is being sought in Orleans Parish, Louisiana, on charges of making terroristic threats. Authorities allege he intended to travel to a New Orleans festival with plans to carry out a mass shooting followed by suicide.
The Louisiana State Police have not disclosed which festival was allegedly targeted but reassured in a Thursday statement that “there are no known direct threats to any festivals in Louisiana.”
The first weekend of the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival was set to commence on Thursday.
Christopher Gillum, of Chapel Hill, N.C., was wanted by the Louisiana Department of Public Safety “for terroristic threats” and was arrested at a hotel in Destin, Fla., the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement Thursday. (Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office)
Alex Carrasquillo, the communication manager for Chapel Hill, North Carolina, confirmed to Fox News Digital that Gillum was an officer there from 2004 to 2019.
Gillum returned as a non-sworn employee in 2024 before leaving for another job by the end of that year, Carrasquillo said.
Gillum was being held in a Florida jail and awaiting extradition to Louisiana, the sheriff’s office said. (Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office)
Authorities in Louisiana and Florida highlighted the collaboration between several agencies and the use of license plate reader technology after the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office said deputies learned Gillum was in the area through the county’s Flock camera system.
“This disturbing case highlights how technology like FLOCK and strong partnerships between agencies can help prevent potential violence and bring wanted fugitives into custody safely before a tragedy could occur,” said Sheriff Eric Aden.
When officers arrested Gillum, they recovered a handgun and approximately 200 rounds of ammunition from his hotel room, the sheriff’s office said. (Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office)
Deputies also recovered a handgun and approximately 200 rounds of ammunition from Gillum’s hotel room.
Gillium is being held in the Okaloosa County jail pending extradition to Louisiana.
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