Who Is Billy Joe Cagle? Man Arrested at Atlanta Airport Over Mass Shooting Threat

Billy Joe Cagle, 49, was arrested Monday morning inside Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport after allegedly threatening to carry out a mass shooting. According to authorities, Cagle’s family reported he was experiencing “mental challenges” and had posted on social media that he was heading to the airport to “shoot it up.” The tip from his family allowed law enforcement to act swiftly and potentially prevent a tragedy.Cartersville police, in Cagle’s hometown, were alerted by the family and contacted Atlanta Police just before 1AM., sharing Cagle’s photo and details about the threats. However, Cagle had already arrived at the airport about 11 minutes earlier and entered the south terminal at 9:31 AM.Within 14 minutes of the alert being issued, Atlanta Police officers located and arrested Cagle near a Transportation Security Administration (TSA) checkpoint. He was not armed at the time of his arrest, but police later searched his Chevrolet flatbed truck parked outside the terminal and found an AR-15-style assault rifle with 27 rounds of ammunition, including one in the chamber. A dog found in the vehicle was unharmed and has since been returned to the family.Atlanta Police Chief Darin Schierbaum stated during a press conference that the situation could have ended far worse. “We did have a tragedy averted today,” he said. “I do believe that Mr. Cagle was headed back to his truck to retrieve [the weapon], and I do believe he was likely to use that weapon inside the crowded terminal he had just seen.”Cagle now faces multiple 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. Related News | AWS Outage: Why is Canvas Down and When Will It Be Restored?According to Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens, Cagle is a convicted felon, though how he obtained the firearm remains under investigation. Georgia Department of Corrections records show a prior conviction for marijuana possession more than two decades ago.The arrest took place on the same day that TSA checkpoint lines were particularly long due to staffing shortages linked to the ongoing federal government shutdown.Authorities have praised the rapid response and the critical role Cagle’s family played by reporting his behavior. “This is a clear example of ‘see something, say something’ working exactly as it should,” Schierbaum said.