Ex-officer accused of plotting New Orleans attack is released after grand jury declines to indict

A former law enforcement officer, Christopher Gillum, accused of plotting to kill Black people at a New Orleans festival, was released from custody in the summer after a grand jury decided there was insufficient evidence to charge him. Gillum, 45, had been held without bond and arrested in Florida in April with ammunition and a handgun.

The grand jury in June declined to indict him on a state terrorism charge that could have resulted in a 15-year sentence. Gillum's release was not previously reported, and he is not facing charges in any other jurisdictions. His arrest came on the eve of the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, drawing hundreds of thousands of attendees.

Gillum had expressed threats to harm Black people and had been reported missing in North Carolina with a history of self-harm. Authorities from Louisiana, North Carolina, and Florida collaborated on the investigation. His attorney stated that there were jurisdictional issues affecting the case after Gillum's extradition to Louisiana. Federal authorities have declined to comment on potential charges for Gillum in their jurisdiction.