Former NC police officer arrested in Florida over alleged New Orleans mass shooting threat

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. -- A North Carolina man accused of threatening a mass shooting in New Orleans has been taken into custody in Florida, authorities said.

Christopher Gillum of Chapel Hill was arrested Wednesday evening at a Destin hotel by deputies with the Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office. Investigators said they were able to locate Gillum using the county's Flock camera system after receiving information that he was in the area.

Gillum is wanted in Orleans Parish by the Louisiana Department of Public Safety on a charge of terroristic threats. Authorities said they obtained information indicating Gillum planned to travel to a festival in New Orleans with the intent to carry out a mass shooting and "then commit suicide by cop."

Deputies said they recovered a handgun and about 200 rounds of ammunition from Gillum's hotel room on Scenic Highway 98.

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The Chapel Hill Police Department told ABC Raleigh-Durham affiliate WTVD that Gillum served as a police officer from 2004 to 2019. He returned in 2024 as a nonsworn employee before leaving for another job later that year.

The Orange County Sheriff's Office also confirmed that Gillum worked as a detention officer from October 2023 to July 2024, and then as a deputy from January to September of 2025.

New Orleans Mayor Helena Moreno released a statement on the arrest:

"I want to recognize the tremendous coordinated and swift work by the New Orleans FBI, Louisiana State Police, NOPD, NOCEM and Governor. This level of coordination extended to law enforcement agencies in multiple states from North Carolina to Florida. This is where urgent collaboration and cooperation pays off. Job well done! We will continue working closely with our law enforcement partners at every level to ensure that any potential danger is addressed quickly and decisively. The safety of our residents and visitors will always be my top priority."

Gillum is being held in the Okaloosa County Jail while awaiting extradition to Louisiana.

Additional information is being released by the Louisiana Department of Public Safety.