A Georgia man has been charged with threatening the Atlanta Airport with a gun

A Georgia man accused of threatening to “shoot up” Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport has been charged after authorities say he arrived on a busy commuter train with an AR-15 and dozens of rounds of ammunition.

Convicted Billy Joe Cagle, 49, was charged in a criminal complaint Tuesday with attempted violence at an international airport, communications containing threats to harm another person and possession of a firearm.

“As alleged in this complaint, the culle threatened with a sense of offensive violence against innocent travelers, in the highest airport in the world, with the most powerful weapon in the world,” said the lawyer of Thehertzberg. “Thanks to the vigilance of some citizens and the quick actions of law enforcement, a horrific tragedy was prevented.”

Hertzberg said Cagle was on the phone Monday when he allegedly threatened to “shoot up the airport.” CAGLE Airport was referring to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.

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While on the call, Hertzberg added, allegedly to Cagle, “I’m at the airport, and I’m going to be rat-a-tat-tat,” before quickly ending the call.

The person on the other end of the call went to the Carrersville Police Department to report Cagle’s threat, and officials with the department alerted the Atlanta Police Department. Cartersville also provided Atlanta police with photos of the car and a description of the Chevrolet Pickup Truck he was reportedly driving.

Atlanta Police Chief Darin Schierbaum said at Monday’s News Conference that he arrived at CAGLE at the Airport’s South Terminal at 9 a.m.

‘Trouble is banned’ at Atlanta Airport as police arrest man with AR-15 he allegedly threatened to ‘shoot’

Chevrolet flat-rat-bed truck and recovered an AR-15 rifle That belongs to 49-year-old Billy Joe Cagle, found parked curbside at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport on Oct. 20, 2025. (Atlanta Police Department)

Officials are patrolling the area and have issued an “Alert-on-the-lookout” Chevrolet TO FLATBED PICKUP TERROR.

Schierbaum said officers, using surveillance footage, found him at 9:54 a.m. and arrested him.

During a security sweep of the airport’s exterior, officers found Cagle’s Pickup. Inside, they say they found an AR-15 loaded with 27 rounds in the back seat. The weapon had been removed, and the area was declared safe.

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Travelers pass through a crowded TSA checkpoint at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport on the morning of Oct. 20, 2025, shortly before police arrested Billy Joe CAgle following an alleged “shooting.” (Atlanta Police Department)

The FBI is investigating the case with assistance from both the Cartersville and Atlanta Police Departments and the Clayton County District Attorney’s office.

“This is a perfect example of ‘see something, say something’ in action,” FBI Atlanta special agent in charge Paul Brown said. “When the family of Billy Joe CAgle Cae Cae saw something was wrong, they alerted the authorities. Their quick thinking – the quick response of our partners, without a doubt – without a doubt from our parents who work in law enforcement – without a doubt saved lives.”

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Cagle has a criminal history, including a “significant” prior drug arrest in Cartersville, according to Schierbaum.

The charges against Kagle announced Tuesday are in addition to previously announced charges. Those include Terroristic Threats, Possession of a Firearm during the Commission of a Felony, Felony Attempted Assault and Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon.