Christopher Gillum, identified as a North Carolina resident, was apprehended on Wednesday evening at a hotel in Destin, Florida. Authorities stated he is accused of planning a mass shooting targeting a large festival in New Orleans. The arrest occurred without incident.
The Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office reported that Gillum was taken into custody after being located in the area, apparently through the use of the county's 'Flock camera system'. Federal authorities had alerted the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office to his suspected presence in their district. Gillum is reportedly wanted in Orleans Parish for terroristic threats. Officials confirmed he will be extradited to Louisiana.
Deputies recovered a handgun and approximately 200 rounds of ammunition from Gillum's hotel room. The specific festival in question was not explicitly named in initial reports. However, the timing of the arrest aligns with the period of the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, commonly known as JazzFest, which is scheduled to run from Thursday through May 3.
Read More: Two Arrested in Dudley for Selling Drugs from Shops
New Orleans police and the Orleans Parish Sheriff's Office have deferred inquiries to state police and the FBI. CNN has reportedly reached out to festival organizers for comment.
