ATLANTA — A man was apprehended at Atlanta’s bustling airport on Monday after his family alerted authorities about his intentions to carry out a shooting, according to the city’s police chief. The suspect, found with an assault rifle and ammunition in his truck, was stopped before any harm could occur.
Identified as Billy Joe Cagle from Cartersville, Georgia, the man allegedly detailed his plan to attack the world’s busiest airport during a social media livestream, Chief Darin Schierbaum stated in a news briefing.
“The Cartersville Police Department received information from Mr. Cagle’s family, who reported that he was livestreaming his journey to the Atlanta airport with the intent to ‘shoot it up,'” Schierbaum explained, noting Cagle’s status as a convicted felon.
The 49-year-old arrived at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport in a Chevrolet pickup truck, which he parked just outside the terminal. Inside the vehicle, officers discovered an AR-15 rifle along with 27 rounds of ammunition, Schierbaum reported.
“Today, we are sharing a story of prevention rather than tragedy, thanks to a vigilant family who spoke up,” the chief emphasized.
Cartersville police Capt. Greg Sparacio, whose department first received the family’s tip, commented that Cagle “intended to cause harm to as many people as possible.”
During the news conference, police showed surveillance video that shows Cagle arriving at the airport and body camera video of his arrest.
A Chevrolet flatbed pickup truck is seen arriving curbside at the airport terminal around 9:30 a.m. and then a man police identified as Cagle is seen entering the airport a few minutes later. He walks over to the TSA security checkpoint and had “high interest in that area,” Schierbaum said.
Body camera footage shows Atlanta police officers, who had a photo of Cagle provided by his family on their phones, approach him and start asking him questions before taking him into custody. As they take him to the ground and put handcuffs on him, Cagle can be heard yelling.
Cagle has been charged with making 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 felon, Schierbaum said.
Since Cagle is a convicted felon, Atlanta police will work with federal authorities to determine how he obtained the gun “which he was not able to legally possess,” Schierbaum said.
Mayor Andre Dickens said “we’re thankful to God” that a tragedy was averted.
“We’re thankful to God and to good information, and good intel, and good people for this crisis being averted,” the mayor said.
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