Former North Carolina police officer charged with making "terroristic threats," arrested in Florida en route to music fest this weekend

A North Carolina man was arrested in Florida for allegedly planning a mass shooting at an upcoming New Orleans music festival, presumed to be city’s annual Jazz Fest.

Christopher Gillum of Chapel Hill, North Carolina, a former police officer, was arrested without incident by the sheriff’s department in Destin, Florida, where Gillum was staying at a hotel allegedly en route to the music festival.

The Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office wrote on social media, “The OCSO was contacted by federal authorities in reference to a male from North Carolina being in our jurisdiction while reportedly heading to do a mass shooting at a large festival in Louisiana. Our Bravo East Deputies located the male at a Destin hotel and he was taken into custody tonight without incident as a fugitive from justice. He will be extradited to Louisiana for his charges from state police there. Excellent work by all.”

The sheriff’s department added that they recovered 200 rounds of ammunition and a handgun from Gillum’s hotel room during the arrest. Gillum was wanted on charges of making terroristic threats.

The Associated Press reports that Gillum’s family reported him missing on Tuesday, telling law enforcement in North Carolina that he had a history of self-harm and “expressed recent threats to harm ‘Black people,’” Lt. Clint Lyons of the Alamance County Sheriff’s Office in North Carolina said.

Gillum served as a sworn police officer in Chapel Hill from 2006 to 2019, and then as a detention officer from 2024 to September 2025, when he resigned his position.

While authorities didn’t name the specific music festival Gillum was targeting, New Orleans Jazz Fest begins Thursday, April 23.

“Jazz Fest is grateful to all law enforcement partners for their dedication and exceptional service in protecting our community,” Matthew Goldman, Jazz Fest press director, told USA Today. “As always, we coordinate closely with the FBI, Louisiana State Police, NOPD (New Orleans Police Department), NOCEM (New Orleans Office of Coordination and Emergency Management), and other agencies, and we will continue to do so as we look forward to another safe and joyful Jazz Fest.”

Louisiana State Police Sgt. Ross Brennan added in a statement, “At this time, there are no known direct threats to any festivals in Louisiana.”