UPDATE: We have received a statement from Louisiana State Police.
“LSP, in coordination with our FBI partners, is actively conducting an investigation. While a suspect has been taken into custody in Florida, the investigation remains ongoing, and no further details are being released at this time to avoid compromising the investigation. At this time, there are no known direct threats to any festivals in Louisiana, but we are constantly working with Local, State and Federal partners through our Louisiana State Analytical and Fusion Exchange Center to ensure safety,” the statement reads.
WVUE in New Orleans is reporting that the man arrested is a former police officer.
Gillum is a former Chapel Hill police officer. According to Alex Carrasquillo, communications manager for the Town of Chapel Hill, Gillum served as an officer there from 2004 to 2019, when he resigned. He later returned to the department in 2024 as a non-sworn employee before leaving for another job by the end of that year, the station reports. To read their coverage, click here.
Here’s the original story:
Florida law enforcement arrested a man last night who allegedly was “heading to do a mass shooting at a large festival in Louisiana.”
The Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office posted photos of a man being arrested, as well as a weapon and ammo, on their Facebook page Wednesday night.
Thursday morning, they reported that Christopher Gillum of Chapel Hill, North Carolina was arrested without incident in Destin, Florida.
He is wanted in Orleans Parish by state police for “terroristic threats.”
“Authorities obtained information Gillum planned to travel to a festival in New Orleans to conduct a mass shooting and then commit suicide by cop,” the release states.
They said they seized a handgun and about 200 rounds of ammo from his hotel room.
Jazz Fest starts tomorrow.
