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Florida Deputies Arrest Former Officer Over Jazz Fest Plot

4/24/2026

Summary

Gillum Arrested

Okaloosa County deputies arrested former North Carolina officer Christopher Gillum in Destin, Florida on Wednesday.
Authorities allege Gillum plotted a mass shooting at New Orleans' Jazz Fest, which runs April 23–May 3 and attracts up to 460,000 attendees.
Deputies seized a handgun and about 200 rounds after a Flock license-plate-reading camera sweep.
Louisiana State Police and the FBI say no direct threats exist to the festival.
Jazz Fest organizers praised law-enforcement coordination.

Summary

Gillum Held

Christopher Gillum is being held at the Okaloosa County jail while Louisiana authorities arrange his extradition.
Officials said no attorney information was immediately available for Gillum at the time of his detention.
The Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office recorded his arrest at approximately 6:40 p.m. on April 22, 2026 in a Destin hotel room.
Gillum worked as an Orange County detention officer from October 2023 to July 2024 and as a deputy from January 2025 to September 2025.

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Gillum Arrested

Okaloosa County deputies arrested former North Carolina officer Christopher Gillum in Destin, Florida on Wednesday.
Authorities allege Gillum plotted a mass shooting at New Orleans' Jazz Fest, which runs April 23–May 3 and attracts up to 460,000 attendees.
Deputies seized a handgun and about 200 rounds after a Flock license-plate-reading camera sweep.
Louisiana State Police and the FBI say no direct threats exist to the festival.
Jazz Fest organizers praised law-enforcement coordination.

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