Former police officer arrested for allegedly plotting mass shooting at New Orleans festival

A former North Carolina police officer was arrested in Florida on suspicion of planning a mass shooting at a New Orleans festival set to begin Thursday. 

Christopher Gillum of Chapel Hill was taken into custody Wednesday evening at a hotel in Destin, Florida. Authorities say he had a handgun and about 200 rounds of ammunition, according to a local Fox TV station. 

He was wanted in Orleans Parish on charges of making terroristic threats, and investigators say he was planning to travel to a festival in New Orleans to carry out a mass shooting, which was to end by "suicide by cop." 

Gillum was a police officer in Chapel Hill between 2004 and 2019, and resigned from the position. He returned to the department in 2024 and resigned again by the end of the year to pursue another job opportunity. A spokesperson for the Orange County Sheriff's office told the TV station that Gillum was a detention officer and later a deputy for the office. He didn't face disciplinary actions and resigned from both positions voluntarily. 

Authorities haven't said what festival Gillum was targeting. 

Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill praised the Louisiana State Police and FBI who coordinated to track down Gillum. She said that she's confident that events in the state are secure.