Key facts
- Christopher Gillum, a former law enforcement officer, was released from custody over the summer.
- A Louisiana grand jury declined to indict Gillum on a state terrorism charge in June.
- Gillum was arrested in Florida with ammunition and a handgun while allegedly en route to New Orleans for a mass shooting.
- Authorities stated Gillum had expressed threats to harm Black people.
- Jurisdictional issues and threats occurring in North Carolina complicated the case.
- Gillum's family has taken him to a treatment facility out of state.
A former law enforcement officer, Christopher Gillum, accused of planning a mass shooting targeting Black people at a New Orleans festival, was released from custody after a Louisiana grand jury declined to indict him on state terrorism charges. The grand jury's decision in June came due to insufficient evidence, according to court records.
Gillum, who was held without bond, was released shortly after the grand jury's decision and is not facing charges in other jurisdictions, his attorney confirmed. The 45-year-old ex-police officer, from North Carolina, was arrested in Florida in April with hundreds of rounds of ammunition and a handgun while allegedly en route to Louisiana. The investigation involved the FBI and authorities in multiple states.
Authorities indicated that Gillum had expressed threats to harm Black people. The specific event he was allegedly targeting was not named, but his arrest occurred shortly before the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival. His family had reported him missing in North Carolina and noted a history of self-harm.
Lester Duhe, a spokesperson for the Louisiana Attorney General, stated that jurisdictional issues complicated the case, as the alleged threats were relayed to a family member in North Carolina, and Gillum did not enter Louisiana until after his arrest. He also mentioned Gillum was planning to travel to the Florida Keys during the same period he would have been suspected to travel to Louisiana.
Katherine Schweit, a former FBI executive, commented that thwarted acts of mass violence do not always result in indictments, as convincing a grand jury can be challenging. Law enforcement in North Carolina stated they were unaware of Gillum's release.