Ex-officer accused of plotting New Orleans attack is released after grand jury declines to indict
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — A former law enforcement officer accused of planning to kill Black people in a mass shooting at a New Orleans festival was quietly released from custody over…
Christopher Gillum, a 45-year-old former police officer from Chapel Hill, North Carolina, was arrested in April 2026 at a hotel in Destin, Florida. He was apprehended with a substantial amount of ammunition and a handgun, allegedly on his way to carry out a mass shooting at a New Orleans festival. This news was reported by the Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office.
The investigation into Gillum's alleged plans was extensive, involving the FBI and authorities from Louisiana, North Carolina, and Florida. The authorities emphasized that Gillum, who is white, had expressed threats against Black people. Gillum’s family reported him missing in North Carolina, citing a history of self-harm and his involvement in a treatment facility out of state.
Despite the serious allegations, a Louisiana grand jury in June declined to indict Gillum on a state terrorism charge. This decision, based on court records, indicated there was insufficient evidence to charge him with the crime. Consequently, Gillum was released from custody shortly after the grand jury's decision, and he currently faces no charges in any jurisdiction. His attorney, Dylan Utley, declined to comment further on the matter.
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