Authorities apprehended a Georgia man on Monday morning at Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport following alarming reports from his family. The man, identified as 49-year-old Billy Joe Cagle, allegedly broadcasted his intentions to “shoot up” the airport on social media, prompting swift police action.
According to Atlanta Police Chief Darin Schierbaum, Cagle was taken into custody inside the airport, though he was unarmed at the time of his arrest, as reported by WANF. However, law enforcement discovered an AR-15 rifle in his pickup truck parked outside the terminal.
The incident unfolded after Cagle’s relatives alerted Cartersville police around 9:40 a.m. The information was relayed to Atlanta police, who quickly pinpointed Cagle’s location.
Airport surveillance indicated that Cagle entered the airport at 9:31 a.m., with his arrest occurring just 23 minutes later at 9:54 a.m., as reported by WAGA. This rapid response highlights the efficiency of the police operation following the threat notification.
Chief Schierbaum suggested that Cagle’s initial visit to the airport was likely a reconnaissance mission, intended to assess the facility before retrieving his weapon from the truck. “He was likely to use that weapon in the crowded terminal he had just seen,” Schierbaum stated.
Cagle now faces serious charges, including making terroristic threats, criminal attempt to commit aggravated assault, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
