Man Arrested at Atlanta Airport After Threatening to ‘Shoot It Up’
Police arrested a man inside Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport on Monday Oct. 20 after his family reported he was armed and planning to “shoot it up,” averting what officials described as a potential tragedy.
The suspect, identified as Billy Joe Cagle of Cartersville, Georgia, was taken into custody at the airport’s South Terminal shortly before 9:30 a.m. He was unarmed at the time of his arrest, but authorities later found an AR-15-style assault rifle in his vehicle parked outside the terminal.
Cagle now faces multiple felony charges, including terroristic threats, criminal attempt to commit aggravated assault, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, Atlanta Police Chief Darin Schierbaum said during a press briefing. “This was a tragedy averted,” he added.
According to investigators, Cagle’s family alerted Cartersville Police after he allegedly made threats and appeared in a social media livestream stating he was headed to the airport with a weapon. Cartersville authorities quickly notified Atlanta police, but by the time officers were mobilized, Cagle had already arrived at the airport and was seen near the TSA check-in area, one of the busiest parts of the terminal.
“He seemed to be very interested in the TSA check-in area, which you can see was heavily, heavily crowded,” Schierbaum said, referencing surveillance footage.
Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens said Cagle appeared to be mentally unstable. “This individual did have a semi-automatic weapon, and this individual was mentally challenged. And when you have those combinations together, it can turn out to be deadly,” Dickens said.
The FBI confirmed it is assisting in the ongoing investigation. Authorities have not yet disclosed a possible motive, and it remains unclear whether Cagle had an attorney. Records from the Georgia Department of Corrections show a prior conviction for marijuana possession more than two decades ago.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem praised law enforcement’s swift response, saying she was “thankful this individual was taken into custody before harming anyone.”
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, the world’s busiest airport with more than 108 million passengers in 2024, remained open and fully operational throughout the incident. Police credited Cagle’s family for alerting authorities in time. “We’re here today briefing you on a success and not a tragedy,” Schierbaum said. “Because a family saw something and said something.”
Related News: https://airguide.info/category/air-travel-business/travel-health-security/