‘Tragedy’ averted at Atlanta airport: police

A man who allegedly threatened to shoot at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport was arrested after entering an airport terminal on Monday, according to authorities.

The man’s family alerted police that the suspect had been broadcasting on social media Monday morning that he was headed to the airport to “shoot” and was in possession of a semi-automatic assault rifle, according to Atlanta Police Chief Darin Schierbaum.

The man, identified by the Atlanta Police Department as Billy Cagle, 49, of Cartersville, Georgia, was detained at the airport, police said. Officers located an AR-15 assault rifle with 27 rounds of ammunition in his van parked outside the airport, Schierbaum said.

The suspect is a felon who has mental health issues, authorities said. He has been charged with terroristic threats and criminal attempt to commit aggravated assault, among other charges, the police chief said.

“Thanks to the community, in this case the family, as well as the joint collaboration of law enforcement, a tragedy was avoided,” Schierbaum said at a news conference Monday.

The police chief said Cagle arrived at the airport at 9:29 a.m. and upon entering the south terminal, he went to the TSA check-in area and was “scanning that area.” Schierbaum said he believes Cagle was walking back to his truck with the intention of retrieving the gun when officers found him at 9:54 a.m. and detained him unarmed.

“I think he probably used that weapon inside the crowded terminal,” Schierbaum said.

The suspect’s family reported the alleged threat on social media to Cartersville police, who immediately alerted the Atlanta Police Department at approximately 9:40 a.m., according to Schierbaum.

Cartersville Police Capt. Greg Sparacio told reporters that Cagle’s family alerted Cartersville police shortly after 9:30 a.m. that the suspect was “on his way somewhere in the Atlanta area” and that he “intended to harm as many people as he could.”

Investigators determined which vehicle he was traveling in and provided that information to Atlanta police, he said.

A possible motive remains under investigation, Schierbaum said.

The Atlanta FBI said it is assisting the Atlanta Police Department with the investigation.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said her department is “in communication with our interagency partners.”

“I am grateful that authorities apprehended this individual before he harmed anyone,” she said in a statement.

Sparacio said his department is “familiar” with Cagle and that he has a criminal history, including a previous arrest for drug possession, although he did not go into further detail.

Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens said he is grateful a potential tragedy at the world’s busiest airport was averted.

“We are grateful to God, good information and good people for being able to avoid this crisis,” he said during the briefing.