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Former Police Officer Arrested for Alleged Mass Shooting Plot in New Orleans

KVIA•Thursday, April 23, 2026 at 4:27 PM•CNN Newsource

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Christopher Gillum, a former police officer from Chapel Hill, North Carolina, was arrested in Florida for allegedly planning a mass shooting at an unspecified festival in New Orleans. Authorities discovered that Gillum intended to carry out the attack and provoke law enforcement to shoot at him. He was apprehended at a hotel in Destin, Florida, where officers found a firearm and approximately 200 rounds of ammunition. Gillum is currently in custody awaiting extradition to Louisiana. The incident highlights the effectiveness of inter-agency cooperation and technology in preventing potential violence.

Key Details: • Gillum was arrested on Wednesday night in Destin, Florida. • He is wanted in Orleans Parish for making terroristic threats. • The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival runs from April 27 to May 3, attracting around 400,000 attendees. • Gillum was a police officer from 2004 to 2019 and briefly returned as a civilian employee in 2024. • The technology used for his capture involved Flock's license plate recognition system.

arrest law-enforcement public-safety mass-shooting new-orleans

People & Organizations

FBINew OrleansNew Orleans Police DepartmentChristopher GillumHelena MorenoEric AdenDestin, FloridaChapel Hill, North CarolinaOkaloosa County Sheriff's Office

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