Overview
- Police identified the suspect as Billy Joe Cagle, 49, of Cartersville, after relatives reported a live‑streamed threat to “go to the airport to shoot.”
- He arrived at Hartsfield‑Jackson’s South Terminal around 9:29 a.m. and was detained near a TSA checkpoint at about 9:54 a.m., with no injuries reported and the airport declared secure.
- Officers located his Chevrolet outside and recovered a Springfield AR‑15 and 27 rounds from the back seat, according to Atlanta Police Chief Darin Schierbaum.
- Cagle faces state counts including terroristic threats, attempted aggravated assault, possession of a firearm during a felony, and possession by a convicted felon, with federal prosecution under review.
- Officials credited the family’s alert and rapid coordination among agencies for preventing a potential mass shooting, and noted the family reported mental‑health concerns.