Rifle-wielding man arrested after FaceTiming relative to say he planned to ‘shoot up’ Atlanta airport

A mass shooting at Georgia’s largest airport was averted after police arrested a man who allegedly threatened to open fire with an assault rifle at one of the terminals.

Billy Joe Cagle, 49, of Cartersville in the Atlanta metro area, was arrested Monday at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, according to Atlanta Police Chief Darin Schierbaum.

Cagle told family members who FaceTimed him on his way to the airport that he planned to open fire there.

Around 9:40 a.m., family members called Cartersville police, described what happened and provided a picture of Cagle. The local department notified Atlanta police, who then responded to the threat.

Family members also told police Cagle was livestreaming on social media shortly before arriving at the airport.

Officers from the Atlanta Police Department arrived and found Cagle’s pickup truck blocking traffic. Inside, they found an AR-15 rifle and 27 rounds of ammunition.

Cagle had initially entered the terminal unarmed, and Schierbaum said he believed the suspect was surveilling the place.

The police chief also said he believed Cagle was walking back to the truck to retrieve the rifle when officers arrested him and that ‘there was a high probability he would use that weapon in the crowded terminal he had just seen.’

Cagle initially entered the terminal unarmed, but police believe he returned to his car to retrieve his rifle and retrieve an assault rifle when he was arrested

Police found Cagle at the airport around 9:54 a.m., less than 15 minutes after the initial call, and detained him.

Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens said the close call “could have been tragic but was prevented” and added that “27 or more people could have lost their lives today.”

He also said authorities believe Cagle was experiencing a mental health crisis.

Cartersville police said Cagle has a criminal history. Georgia Department of Corrections records show he was convicted of marijuana possession more than two decades ago.

Cagle was charged with making terroristic threats, attempted aggravated assault, possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime and possession of a firearm by a felon, according to Schierbaum.

Atlanta Police Chief Darin Schierbaum held a press conference to discuss the foiled shooting

Surveillance footage shows Cagle parking his truck diagonally outside the terminal. Police said he was blocking traffic when they found him

City officials praised the suspect’s family for calling police and said their actions likely prevented a tragedy.

At a press conference, Schierbaum thanked Officers Gibson and Banks, who arrested Cagle, as well as Sergeant Jones, who coordinated the information police received.

The arrest comes at a worrying time for the aviation industry; Airports across the U.S. are backed up and wait times at security checkpoints have increased due to staffing shortages resulting from the government shutdown.

Mayor Dickens said, ‘We thank God’ that the attack was prevented.