Family tip leads to arrest of man accused in Atlanta airport shooting plot

Police arrested a Georgia man at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport on Monday after his family alerted authorities that he was livestreaming plans to “shoot up” the airport, the city’s police chief said. Officers later found an assault rifle and ammunition in his truck parked just outside the terminal.

Chief Darin Schierbaum said Billy Joe Cagle, 49, of Cartersville, was taken into custody without incident after police identified him from a social media video and a photo provided by his family.

“The Cartersville Police Department was alerted by the family of Mr. Cagle that he was streaming on social media that he was headed to the Atlanta airport, in their words, to ‘shoot it up,’” Schierbaum said. “The family stated that he was in possession of an assault rifle.”

Cagle, a convicted felon, arrived at the airport in a Chevrolet pickup truck parked curbside outside the terminal around 9:30 a.m., Schierbaum said. Officers found an AR-15-style rifle with 27 rounds of ammunition inside the truck.

“We’re here today briefing you on a success and not a tragedy because a family saw something and said something,” the chief added.

Cartersville police Capt. Greg Sparacio said Cagle “had the intention to inflict harm to as many people as he could.” Surveillance video shown at a news conference depicted Cagle entering the airport and walking toward the TSA security checkpoint, which police said appeared to be an area of “high interest” to him.

Body camera footage released by Atlanta police shows officers confronting Cagle inside the terminal. Using a photo provided by his family, officers approached, questioned, and then arrested him. As he was taken to the ground and handcuffed, Cagle could be heard yelling, police said.

Cagle faces charges including 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 federal authorities are working with Atlanta police to investigate how Cagle obtained the weapon, which he was prohibited from possessing under federal law.

Mayor Andre Dickens credited both the family and local police with preventing a potential mass shooting. “We’re thankful to God and to good information, and good intel, and good people for this crisis being averted,” Dickens said.

Schierbaum said the case shows the importance of community vigilance. “Because someone saw something and said something, we are reporting on an arrest today and not a tragedy,” he said.

This article includes reporting by the Associated Press.