Trending Now - Veteran Officer Arrested for Alleged Mass Shooting Plot

WHO:

WRAL - Christopher Gillum, a veteran law enforcement officer from Chapel Hill, North Carolina.

CNN - Okaloosa County Sheriff Eric Aden, New Orleans Mayor Helena Moreno, and law enforcement agencies including the New Orleans FBI, Louisiana State Police, and NOPD.

WHAT:

WRAL - Gillum was arrested for allegedly planning a mass shooting at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival.

WRAL - Gillum was wanted in Orleans Parish, Louisiana, for making terroristic threats.

WRAL - A handgun and approximately 200 rounds of ammunition were recovered from Gillum's hotel room.

CNN - Gillum was taken into custody without incident at a hotel in Destin, Florida.

WHERE:

WRAL - The arrest occurred at a hotel in Destin, Florida.

WRAL - Gillum is from Chapel Hill, North Carolina.

CNN - The planned attack was intended to take place at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival in New Orleans, Louisiana.

WHEN:

WRAL - Gillum was arrested on Wednesday, April 20th, 2026.

CNN - The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival begins on April 21st, 2026, and runs through May 3rd, 2026.

WHY:

WRAL - Gillum allegedly planned to commit a mass shooting and then commit suicide by cop.

HOW:

WRAL - Local law enforcement received information about Gillum's presence in Florida and verified it through the county's Flock camera system.

CNN - The Flock camera system is used by law enforcement to read license plates and identify vehicles, aiding in tracking suspects.

(UPDATED April 23, 2026 19:23 UTC)

Christopher Gillum, a veteran law enforcement officer from Chapel Hill, North Carolina, was arrested on Wednesday for allegedly planning a mass shooting at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, which begins on Tuesday. Law enforcement agencies, including the New Orleans FBI and Louisiana State Police, took Gillum into custody without incident at a hotel in Destin, Florida, where they recovered a handgun and around 200 rounds of ammunition from his room. Gillum was wanted in Orleans Parish for making terroristic threats and reportedly intended to commit suicide by cop following the attack.