Overview
- Federal prosecutors charged Billy Joe Cagle, 49, with attempted violence at an international airport, interstate threats, and being a felon in possession of a firearm, adding to state charges filed earlier.
- Atlanta officers arrested Cagle inside the South Terminal at 9:54 a.m. on Oct. 20, less than 30 minutes after he arrived, following relatives’ report that he livestreamed a plan to “shoot it up.”
- Police recovered a Springfield AR-15–style rifle and 27 rounds of ammunition from his pickup parked just outside the terminal, and officials say he was legally barred from possessing guns.
- The FBI is assisting and is investigating how Cagle obtained the rifle, as authorities move him into federal custody and advance the case toward initial court proceedings.
- Surveillance and body‑worn camera footage show him focusing on a crowded TSA checkpoint, and officials said the swift tip and response likely saved dozens of lives.