A person accused of going to the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta Worldwide Airport after making a risk to shoot it up now faces a number of federal expenses, the Division of Justice stated Tuesday.
Billy Joe Cagle, 49, was taken into custody in a terminal on the airport on Monday after a member of the family reported the alleged risk to police, authorities stated. An AR-15-style firearm was positioned in his pickup truck, which was parked in a crosswalk in entrance of the terminal, in line with the DOJ.
A person who allegedly threatened to shoot up the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta Worldwide Airport was arrested after getting into a terminal on the airport on Monday, in line with authorities.
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Cagle has now been charged through felony grievance with tried violence at a global airport, interstate communications containing threats to injure the individual of one other and being a felon in possession of a firearm, the DOJ stated Tuesday.
Cagle allegedly threatened to “shoot up the airport” in a FaceTime name, prosecutors stated.
“On the decision whereas he was driving, Cagle allegedly said, ‘I am on the airport, and I am gonna go rat-a-tat-tat,’ after which he abruptly ended the decision,” the DOJ stated in a press launch.
The individual on the decision drove to the Cartersville Police Division to report the alleged risk, and officers alerted the Atlanta Police Division whereas offering photos of Cagle and an outline of his automobile, the DOJ stated.
After arriving on the airport at 9:29 a.m. on Monday, officers encountered him within the terminal at 9:54 a.m. and he was taken into custody unarmed, Atlanta police stated.
Police physique digital camera footage of an arrest on the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta Worldwide Airport is proven throughout a press briefing, Oct. 20, 2025.
Atlanta Police Division
Police physique digital camera footage of an arrest on the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta Worldwide Airport is proven throughout a press briefing, Oct. 20, 2025.
Atlanta Police Division
“As alleged on this grievance, Cagle senselessly threatened to do heinous violence to harmless vacationers, on the world’s busiest airport, with a high-powered weapon that he had no authorized proper to own,” U.S. Legal professional Theodore Hertzberg stated in an announcement. “Due to the vigilance of different residents and the short motion of regulation enforcement, a horrible tragedy was averted.”
Cagle moreover faces state expenses, together with terroristic threats and firearm counts, Atlanta police stated.
He stays in custody and is scheduled to make his first look on the state expenses on Wednesday in Clayton County. On-line court docket information didn’t listing any lawyer data for him.
Atlanta police stated federal authorities are investigating how Cagle obtained a firearm. Along with the gun, 27 rounds of ammunition had been present in his automobile, police stated.
Atlanta Police Chief Darin Schierbaum stated he believes Cagle was “scouting” the TSA screening space and was strolling again to his truck with the intent to retrieve the weapon when officers, who had been canvassing the realm for the suspect encountered him within the terminal.
“The tragedies that we have seen play out throughout our nation did not occur right here yesterday,” Atlanta Police Chief Darin Schierbaum stated throughout a press briefing on Tuesday.
Schierbaum stated the incident serves for example of the system working, the place “we ask Individuals, for those who see one thing, say one thing, and we ask your law enforcement officials to face in peril for every of us day-after-day.”
He added, “Yesterday is what performed out precisely as we want it to be.”
Cartersville Police Capt. Greg Sparacio instructed reporters on Monday that the division is “acquainted” with Cagle and he has a felony historical past, together with a previous drug possession arrest, although he didn’t go into additional element.
Officers stated Cagle additionally has a historical past of psychological well being challenges.
