Authorities in Florida have arrested a former North Carolina law enforcement officer who allegedly planned a mass shooting at a major New Orleans festival, targeting Black individuals. Christopher Gillum, 42, from Chapel Hill, North Carolina, was apprehended at a hotel in Destin, Florida, with a handgun and nearly 200 rounds of ammunition.
Although officials did not specify the event by name, the timing of the arrest aligns with the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, commonly known as Jazz Fest, which runs from Thursday through May 3 and typically attracts around 460,000 attendees. Federal authorities had alerted the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office in Florida that Gillum was headed to Louisiana to carry out the attack at the festival. However, the specific federal agency involved has not been disclosed, and the FBI in New Orleans has not yet commented on the case.
Gillum was arrested without incident on Wednesday night. The Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office posted a photo of him being taken away in handcuffs. Authorities seized a handgun and approximately 200 rounds of ammunition from his hotel room during the arrest. He was charged as a fugitive from justice and is set to be extradited to Louisiana, though it is unclear whether he has legal representation. The Associated Press attempted to contact him via listed phone numbers but did not receive a response.
Gillum had been reported missing by his family on Tuesday, and it was later revealed that he had a history of self-harm. According to Lt. Clint Lyons of the Alamance County Sheriff’s Office in North Carolina, Gillum’s family informed law enforcement that he had expressed threats to harm Black people. They also reported that he had a firearm. The Burlington Police Department in North Carolina issued a bulletin about Gillum’s whereabouts. Despite his concerning statements, law enforcement did not have the legal grounds to detain him, as there were no victims involved at the time. Lyons confirmed that, due to a lack of criminal evidence, they were unable to initiate an involuntary psychiatric commitment.
Gillum crossed state lines before the paperwork for his involuntary commitment could be completed, and his whereabouts were not known to local law enforcement until Wednesday. Officers had been asked to perform a welfare check, but initially, there was no indication of any specific threats. However, after learning of the investigation, Okaloosa County deputies began surveilling Gillum and eventually arrested him once a warrant was issued by Louisiana authorities.
Gillum had been employed as a detention officer with the Orange County, North Carolina Sheriff’s Office beginning in October 2023 but resigned in July 2024. He was rehired as a deputy in January 2025 but resigned again in September 2025. Additionally, Gillum had served as a sworn officer with the Chapel Hill Police Department from 2004 until his resignation in 2019. He briefly returned to work as a non-sworn employee in 2024 but left by the end of the year.
As of now, Louisiana State Police, along with the FBI, are continuing their investigation into the incident. Louisiana State Police spokesperson Trooper Danny Berrincha confirmed that no direct threats to any festivals in Louisiana have been identified.
In response to the incident, the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival issued a statement expressing their collaboration with law enforcement and commended their efforts in ensuring the safety of the event. The statement concluded by emphasizing their commitment to hosting a safe and joyful festival for all attendees.
