Authorities say a former law enforcement officer from North Carolina has been arrested after allegedly planning a mass shooting targeting Black people at a major festival in New Orleans.
The suspect, identified as Christopher Gillum of Chapel Hill, was taken into custody at a hotel in Destin, Florida. According to officials, he had a handgun and roughly 200 rounds of ammunition in his possession at the time of his arrest.
Law enforcement agencies were alerted after federal authorities received information indicating Gillum was traveling toward Louisiana with the intent to carry out an हमला at a large public event. Investigators believe the likely target was the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, a major gathering that attracts hundreds of thousands of attendees each year.
Gillum was wanted in Louisiana on charges related to making “terroristic threats.” Officials said his family had previously reported him missing and warned that he had made violent statements, including threats directed at Black individuals.
Authorities in Florida initially encountered Gillum but did not have sufficient grounds to detain him at that moment. However, after additional information surfaced, officers located him again and arrested him without incident.
Multiple agencies, including federal and local law enforcement across different states, are now involved in the investigation. Officials have stated that there is currently no confirmed ongoing threat to public events in Louisiana.
Gillum remains in custody and is expected to be extradited to Louisiana, where he will face legal proceedings connected to the alleged plot.