A former North Carolina police officer was arrested Wednesday in a Florida hotel room with a handgun and approximately 200 rounds of ammunition after authorities learned he planned a racially motivated mass shooting at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival.
Why it matters: The arrest, one day before Jazz Fest opens, highlights ongoing domestic terrorism threats from individuals with law enforcement training and access to weapons.
The arrest
Christopher Gillum, 45, was taken into custody at a hotel in Destin, Florida, by deputies from the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office. Louisiana authorities had already sought him on a charge of making terroristic threats.
Deputies located Gillum through the county’s Flock licence plate reader camera system after receiving intelligence that he was in the area. A handgun and roughly 200 rounds of ammunition were recovered from his room.
The alleged plan
According to authorities, Gillum planned to travel to Jazz Fest, target Black attendees in a mass shooting, and then provoke police into killing him. Louisiana State Police said it is investigating the case in coordination with the FBI.
Who is Gillum
Gillum served as a sworn officer with the Chapel Hill Police Department from 2004 to 2019, when he resigned. According to Alex Carrasquillo, a communications manager for the Town of Chapel Hill, Gillum returned briefly in 2024 as a non-sworn employee before leaving for another position by the end of that year.
Festival response
Jazz Fest, which runs from Thursday through 3 May, is proceeding as scheduled. Louisiana State Police said there are “no known direct threats to any festivals in Louisiana” following Gillum’s arrest. Enhanced security measures are in place for the opening weekend.