A former police officer who allegedly was touring to Louisiana to conduct a mass taking pictures at a big competition was arrested Wednesday night time in a Florida lodge the place investigators discovered a gun and almost 200 rounds of ammunition, authorities mentioned.
Christopher Gillum, of Chapel Hill, North Carolina, was needed by the Louisiana Division of Public Security “for terroristic threats” and was arrested at a lodge in Destin, Florida, the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Workplace mentioned in a press release Thursday.
Christopher Gillum is seen on this undated police handout.
Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Workplace
“Authorities obtained info Gillum deliberate to journey to a competition in New Orleans to conduct a mass taking pictures after which commit suicide by cop,” the sheriff’s workplace mentioned.
When officers arrested Gillum, they recovered a handgun and roughly 200 rounds of ammunition from his lodge room, the sheriff’s workplace alleged.
Gadgets confiscated from Christopher Gillum throughout his arrest, April 22, 2026, in Destin, Florida.
Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Workplace
Legal professional info for the suspect was not instantly accessible.
Gillum was a Chapel Hill Police officer from 2004 till 2019, when he resigned, a spokesman for the city of Chapel Hill mentioned in a press release.
“He returned as a non-sworn worker in 2024 earlier than leaving for an additional job by the top of that 12 months,” Alex Carrasquillo, the city’s spokesman, mentioned in a press release.
Gillum was named Officer of the Month in June 2025 by the Orange County North Carolina’s Sheriff’s workplace, based on a social media put up that was confirmed by ABC affiliate WTVD.
Deputy Christopher Gillum was acknowledged because the Officer of the Month in June, 2025 by the Orange County Sheriff’s Workplace in North Carolina.
Orange County Sheriff’s Workplace
The put up applauded Gillum’s work in apprehending an alleged gasoline station theft suspect.
“Gillum situated a single latent fingerprint on a espresso cup utilized by the robber simply earlier than committing the crime. This print allowed us to establish and arrest the suspect when safety footage didn’t seize usable photos. Properly performed, Deputy Gillum!” the put up mentioned.
Gillum was being held in a Florida jail and awaiting extradition to Louisiana, the sheriff’s workplace mentioned.
The Louisiana State Police didn’t say which competition the suspect was allegedly concentrating on, however mentioned in a press release Thursday that “there aren’t any identified direct threats to any festivals in Louisiana.”
Christopher Gillum is arrested by Okaloosa County Sheriffs, April 22, 2026, in Destin, Florida.
Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Workplace
The state police shall be conducting the continued investigation with the FBI, based on the division. The FBI additionally reiterated that there aren’t any identified direct threats to any festivals scheduled in Louisiana.
“Wonderful work by Louisiana State Police and the FBI as a part of their Joint Terrorism Activity Pressure on this case,” Louisiana Legal professional Basic Liz Murrill mentioned in a press release to ABC Information.
