Authorities say a former Chapel Hill police officer was arrested in Florida after they uncovered evidence that he planned a mass shooting at a New Orleans festival and expressed interest in targeting Black people. 

CNN reports that Christopher Gillum, 45, was taken into custody on April 22 at a hotel in Destin, Florida, after deputies in Okaloosa County received information that he was in the area. Investigators said a handgun and roughly 200 rounds of ammunition were found in his room. Louisiana authorities had been seeking him on a terroristic-threats charge.

“Authorities obtained information Gillum planned to travel to a festival in New Orleans to conduct a mass shooting and then commit suicide by cop,” said the sheriff’s office.

Officials said Gillum appeared to be headed for the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, which draws large crowds each spring, though they did not identify a specific target festival in public statements. CNN also reported that a law enforcement source said Gillum’s family told authorities he had expressed a desire to harm Black people, and a North Carolina source said he had a history of violent intent.

Gillum worked for North Carolina departments for more than a decade, including the Chapel Hill Police Department from 2004 to 2019, before later returning as a nonsworn employee and leaving again in 2024, according to local coverage. Chapel Hill and Orange County officials said they were cooperating with the investigation, while Louisiana State Police said they were still assessing the credibility of the threat.

The arrest came as Jazz Fest was set to begin, prompting relief from festival organizers and law enforcement. No direct threats to Louisiana festivals were known after the arrest, state police said.