A person who allegedly threatened to shoot up the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta Worldwide Airport was arrested after coming into a terminal on the airport on Monday, in keeping with authorities.
The person’s household alerted police that the suspect had been streaming on social media Monday morning that he was headed to the airport to “shoot it up” and was in possession of a semi-automatic assault rifle, in keeping with Atlanta Police Chief Darin Schierbaum.
The person — recognized by the Atlanta Police Division as Billy Cagle, 49, of Cartersville, Georgia — was taken into custody on the airport, police stated. Officers situated an AR-15 assault rifle with 27 rounds of ammunition in his pickup truck parked outdoors the airport, Schierbaum stated.
The suspect is a felon who has psychological well being challenges, officers stated. He has been charged with terroristic threats and prison try and commit aggravated assaults, amongst different counts, the police chief stated.
“Due to the neighborhood — on this case, the household — in addition to the joint collaboration of legislation enforcement, a tragedy was certainly averted,” Schierbaum stated at a press briefing Monday.
The police chief stated Cagle arrived on the airport at 9:29 a.m. and, upon coming into the south terminal, went to the TSA check-in space and was “scanning that space.” Schierbaum stated he believes Cagle was strolling again to his truck with the intent to retrieve the weapon when officers encountered him at 9:54 a.m. and he was taken into custody.
“I do consider he was probably to make use of that weapon contained in the crowded terminal,” Schierbaum stated.
The suspect’s household reported the alleged social media menace to Cartersville police, who instantly alerted the Atlanta Police Division at roughly 9:40 a.m., in keeping with Schierbaum.
Cartersville Police Capt. Greg Sparacio informed reporters Cagle’s household alerted Cartersville police shortly after 9:30 a.m. that the suspect was “en path to someplace within the Atlanta space” and he “had the intention to do hurt to as many individuals as he might.”
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta Worldwide Airport in Atlanta, June 22, 2016.
Nate Hovee/Getty Photos
Investigators decided what automobile he was touring in and offered that data to Atlanta police, he stated.
A motive stays beneath investigation, Schierbaum stated.
Sparacio stated their division is “acquainted” with Cagle and he has a prison historical past, together with a previous drug possession arrest, although he didn’t go into additional element.
Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens stated he’s grateful a possible tragedy was averted on the world’s busiest airport.
“We’re grateful to God and to good data and good intel and good individuals for this disaster being averted,” he stated in the course of the briefing.
