ATLANTA, GA- A 49-year-old Cartersville, Georgia man is behind bars in Clayton County after he is suspected of planning an attack at the world’s busiest airport on Monday morning. On Tuesday, federal official in the Northern District of Georgia have announced the suspect will now face federal charges in connection to the incident that unfolded on Monday at the Atlanta airport.
Officials say 49-year-old Billy Joe Cagle, of Cartersville arrived at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport on Monday, October 20, 2025, around 9 a.m. According to a release from the United States Attorney’s Office, Cagle was on a FaceTime call with a family member. During that call he allegedly threatened to “shoot up the airport” and stated that he was at the airport and was going to make it go “rat-a-tat-tat”. The call ended afterwards and officials say that Cagle was driving in his vehicle when the call was underway.
The family member that was on the call with Cagle drove to the police station in Cartersville and alerted police of the events that could possibly be about to unfold in Atlanta. Police in Cartersville alerted Atlanta Police, who were on the lookout for Cagle. Police were unaware that Cagle had already made it to Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport at around 9:29 a.m. Police said during a Monday press conference that Cagle had entered in the area of the South Domestic Terminal.
“He seemed to be very interested in the TSA check-in area, which you can see was heavily crowded with travelers,” said Atlanta Police Chief Darin Schierbaum during a Monday press conference. Atlanta Police were able to locate and detain Cagle exactly 14 minutes after the call from Cartersville Police at 9:40 a.m. He was taken into custody at 9:54 a.m.
A subsequent search of his pickup truck revealed a Springfield AR-15 assault rifle along with 27 rounds of ammunition. The Chevrolet pickup truck belonging to Cagle was located blocking a crosswalk just outside of the terminal doors. Cagle was transported to the Clayton County Jail and faces numerous charges including terroristic threats and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Records show Cagle has a previous Marijuana possession conviction in Bartow County in 2000.
On Tuesday federal officials announced in addition to his state charges he now faces federal charges outlined in a criminal complaint. Those charges include attempted violence at an international airport, interstate communications containing threats to injure the person of another, and being a felon in possession of a firearm.
“As alleged in this complaint, Cagle senselessly threatened to do heinous violence to innocent travelers, at the world’s busiest airport, with a high-powered weapon that he had no legal right to possess,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “Thanks to the vigilance of other citizens and the quick action of law enforcement, a horrible tragedy was averted.”
Cagle remains jailed without bond. The investigation into the incident continues. Law enforcement is grateful to the family of Cagle who saw something and said something, which helped to avert what could have been a bloody day at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport.
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