Overview
- Christopher Gillum, 45, was taken into custody Wednesday evening at a Destin hotel after investigators identified him as a threat to a New Orleans festival, according to the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office.
- Deputies recovered a handgun and roughly 200 rounds of ammunition from his room, and he is being held in the Okaloosa County Jail on a Louisiana warrant for making terroristic threats pending extradition.
- Okaloosa deputies said a federal tip and the county’s Flock license‑plate reader system helped verify Gillum’s location, enabling surveillance and a fugitive arrest without incident.
- Gillum’s family had reported him missing in North Carolina and said he had a history of self‑harm and had expressed threats to harm Black people, and local officers first conducted a welfare check before arresting him once Louisiana issued a warrant.
- Authorities have not named a specific festival and Louisiana State Police say there are no known direct threats to festivals as the investigation continues with the FBI while Jazz Fest opens in New Orleans.