Police said they arrested a man with an AR-15 and ammunition who threatened to carry out a shooting at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.
On Monday, police announced they had arrested Billy Cagle, 49, after a tip from his family that he threatened to go to the world’s busiest airport and “shoot it up.” Cagle was arrested at the airport, where police discovered an AR-15 and 27 rounds of ammunition in his truck.
“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,’ and the family stated that he was in possession of an assault rifle,” the city’s police chief, Darin Schierbaum, told reporters.
“There were 27 rounds that could have been fired from this weapon inside the airport,” he added.
Schierbaum added that Cagle was being 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.
“We’re here today briefing you on a success and not a tragedy because a family saw something and said something,” he said.
Cagle allegedly outlined his detailed plan to shoot up the airport in a social media livestream. Cartersville police Capt. Greg Sparacio said Cagle “had the intention to inflict harm to as many people as he could.”
At the press conference, police showed security and police body camera footage of the arrest. It showed Cagle parking his truck and approaching a TSA checkpoint, where he showed “high interest.” He was approached by police who questioned him before arresting Cagle over his protestations.
Schierbaum said that Cagle, a convicted felon, was “not able to legally possess” his AR-15. An investigation with federal authorities is ongoing as to how he obtained the weapon.
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Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens hailed the incident as an example of vigilance from family members preventing a tragedy.
“See something, say something did work,” he said. “We are standing here talking about a tragedy averted versus us standing here telling you about 27-plus lives that were lost or injured at the world’s busiest airport.”
