Additional Coverage:
A former police officer from North Carolina was apprehended Wednesday night in a Florida hotel after authorities discovered a firearm and nearly 200 rounds of ammunition in his possession. Officials say he was allegedly en route to Louisiana to carry out a mass shooting at a large festival.
Christopher Gillum, of Chapel Hill, was wanted by the Louisiana Department of Public Safety on charges related to terroristic threats. The Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office reported his arrest at a hotel in Destin, Florida.
According to the sheriff’s office, investigators received information indicating that Gillum intended to travel to a New Orleans festival to commit a mass shooting, followed by what they described as “suicide by cop.” When officers took him into custody, they seized a handgun and approximately 200 rounds of ammunition from his hotel room.
Gillum served as a police officer in Chapel Hill from 2004 until his resignation in 2019. He briefly returned in a civilian capacity in 2024 before leaving later that year, a town spokesperson confirmed.
Currently held in a Florida jail, Gillum awaits extradition to Louisiana. While the Louisiana State Police have not disclosed the specific festival allegedly targeted, they assured the public that there are no known direct threats to any events in the state. The ongoing investigation is being conducted in collaboration with the FBI.