Former North Carolina Officer Arrested In Florida Over Alleged New Orleans Festival Mass Shooting Plot
A former North Carolina police officer was arrested Wednesday evening in Destin, Florida, on accusations he planned a mass shooting at a large New Orleans festival.
Authorities identified the suspect as 44-year-old Christopher Gillum of Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Okaloosa County deputies said they arrested him at a hotel without incident and found a handgun and about 200 rounds of ammunition in his room. The sheriff's office posted the arrest details on social media.
Authorities say Gillum had been planning the attack at the large New Orleans festival, but offered no public timeline or motive. The episode traces back to the sheriff's office investigation that culminated in the hotel arrest.
Officials have not released charging information and said the investigation is ongoing. Authorities did not say whether any arrests beyond Gillum had been made.
đ Key Facts
- The suspect is 44-year-old Christopher Gillum of Chapel Hill, North Carolina.
- Authorities say Gillum is a former North Carolina police officer.
- He is accused of planning a mass shooting at a New Orleans festival.
- Okaloosa County deputies arrested Gillum Wednesday evening at a hotel in Destin, Florida; the arrest was made without incident.
- Deputies found a handgun and about 200 rounds of ammunition in his hotel room.
- The Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office posted the arrest details on social media.
đ° Source Timeline (3)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
- Confirms the suspect is 44-year-old former North Carolina police officer Christopher Gillum of Chapel Hill.
- Specifies that Gillum was arrested Wednesday evening at a Destin, Florida hotel.
- Details that Okaloosa County deputies found a handgun and about 200 rounds of ammunition in his hotel room.
- Attributes the arrest details to a social-media post by the Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office.
- Suspect is identified as 44-year-old Christopher Gillum of Chapel Hill, North Carolina.
- Authorities say Gillum is a former North Carolina police officer.
- Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office reports he was arrested without incident at a Destin, Florida hotel.
- Deputies say they found a handgun and approximately 200 rounds of ammunition in his hotel room.