A massive tragedy was averted after police arrested a man at Atlanta's bustling airport on Monday (October 20, 2025). He allegedly threatened to shoot up Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson Airport with an AR-15, which was found in his truck. According to city police chief Darin Schierbaum, the arrest was based upon a tip from his family that he was planning to shoot up the place.
Police found an assault rifle and ammunition in his truck outside, the city's police chief said. While speaking at a news conference, Schierbaum said that the suspect, identified as Billy Joe Cagle, of Cartersville, Georgia, had described his plan to shoot up the world's busiest airport on a social media livestream.
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. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said in a post on the social platform X, “I am thankful this individual was taken into custody by law enforcement before harming anyone.”
Calling Cagle a “convicted felon,” Schierbaum said, “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.”
Atlanta police released the footage of 49-year-old Cagle being arrested. During the news conference, police showed surveillance video that shows him arriving at the airport and body-camera video of his arrest.
Cagle wanted to ‘inflict harm on as many people as he could’
Cartersville police Capt. Greg Sparacio’s department received the initial tip from family members. The department said that he “had the intention to inflict harm on as many people as he could.”
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 walked over to the TSA security checkpoint and had “high interest in that area,” Schierbaum said.
City police chief Darin Schierbaum narrates sequence of events that led to Cagle’s arrest
Cagle arrived at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport in a Chevrolet pickup truck that was parked right outside the doors to the airport terminal. When police reached the vehicle, they discovered an AR-15 with 27 rounds of ammunition, Schierbaum said during the conference.
“We’re here today briefing you on a success and not a tragedy because a family saw something and said something,” the chief said.
How did Atlanta police nab Cagle, and what are the charges against him
Atlanta police officers had a photo of Cagle provided by his family on their phones. In the body-camera footage, they were seen approaching him and starting to ask him questions before taking him into custody. As they take him to the ground and put handcuffs on him, Cagle can be heard yelling.
What are the charges against Cagle
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.
He was in custody Monday, and attempts to reach his family and co-workers through multiple phone numbers and emails were unsuccessful. It wasn’t immediately clear whether he had a lawyer who could comment on the charges.
Police found an assault rifle and ammunition in his truck outside, the city's police chief said. While speaking at a news conference, Schierbaum said that the suspect, identified as Billy Joe Cagle, of Cartersville, Georgia, had described his plan to shoot up the world's busiest airport on a social media livestream.
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. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said in a post on the social platform X, “I am thankful this individual was taken into custody by law enforcement before harming anyone.”
Calling Cagle a “convicted felon,” Schierbaum said, “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.”
Atlanta police released the footage of 49-year-old Cagle being arrested. During the news conference, police showed surveillance video that shows him arriving at the airport and body-camera video of his arrest.
Cagle wanted to ‘inflict harm on as many people as he could’
Cartersville police Capt. Greg Sparacio’s department received the initial tip from family members. The department said that he “had the intention to inflict harm on as many people as he could.”
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 walked over to the TSA security checkpoint and had “high interest in that area,” Schierbaum said.
City police chief Darin Schierbaum narrates sequence of events that led to Cagle’s arrest
Cagle arrived at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport in a Chevrolet pickup truck that was parked right outside the doors to the airport terminal. When police reached the vehicle, they discovered an AR-15 with 27 rounds of ammunition, Schierbaum said during the conference.
“We’re here today briefing you on a success and not a tragedy because a family saw something and said something,” the chief said.
How did Atlanta police nab Cagle, and what are the charges against him
Atlanta police officers had a photo of Cagle provided by his family on their phones. In the body-camera footage, they were seen approaching him and starting to ask him questions before taking him into custody. As they take him to the ground and put handcuffs on him, Cagle can be heard yelling.
What are the charges against Cagle
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.
He was in custody Monday, and attempts to reach his family and co-workers through multiple phone numbers and emails were unsuccessful. It wasn’t immediately clear whether he had a lawyer who could comment on the charges.
