A former police officer from North Carolina was taken into custody late Wednesday night following allegations that he threatened to carry out a mass shooting at a festival in New Orleans, according to officials.
Authorities reported that 45-year-old Christopher Gillum was apprehended at a hotel in Destin, Florida, by deputies from the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office.
Gillum is wanted in Orleans Parish, Louisiana, on charges of making terroristic threats. He allegedly planned to travel to New Orleans with the intention of executing a mass shooting before taking his own life, officials stated.
While the Louisiana State Police has not identified the specific festival Gillum was allegedly targeting, they assured in a statement released Thursday that “there are no known direct threats to any festivals in Louisiana.”
Coincidentally, the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival was set to commence its opening weekend on Thursday.
Originally from Chapel Hill, North Carolina, Gillum was sought by the Louisiana Department of Public Safety for making terroristic threats. He was ultimately arrested at a Florida hotel by the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office, as confirmed in their Thursday statement.
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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