Oct. 22 (UPI) — Federal prosecutors charged Billy Joe Cagle, the man accused of plotting a mass shooting at Atlanta airport, on Tuesday, as more information about the alleged crime became clear.
Cagle, 49, was arrested by police Monday inside the South Terminal at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. An AR-15-style assault rifle with 27 rounds of ammunition was found inside his parked pickup truck. Authorities said a family member had alerted officers to threats Cagle was allegedly making on social media, resulting in his apprehension by those searching for him within the major U.S. travel hub.
On Tuesday, he was charged in a federal criminal complaint with attempted violence at an international airport, interstate communication containing a threat to injure and being a felon in possession of a firearm.
U.S. Attorney Theodore Hertzberg alleged in a statement that Cagle on Monday had threatened to “shoot up the airport” in a FaceTime call with an unidentified person.
“I’m at the airport, and I’m gonna go rat-a-tat-tat,” Cagle allegedly said in the call.
Image: Atlanta Police news conference screen grab
Following the call, the unidentified person on the other end drove to the police station in Cartersville, located about 45 miles north of Atlanta, and reported the threat, according to federal prosecutors.
Cagle was detained and police discovered his vehicle outside the terminal doors, blocking a crosswalk. Inside was the high-powered rifle.
Hertzberg in a statement said: “Thanks to the vigilance of other citizens and the quick action of law enforcement, a horrible tragedy was averted.”
“This is a perfect example of ‘see something, say something’ in action,” FBI Atlanta Special Agent in Charge Paul Brown added.
“When Billy Joe Cagle’s family noticed something wasn’t right, they alerted authorities. Their quick thinking — combined with the swift, heroic response of our law enforcement partners — undoubtedly saved lives.”
Cagle is also facing charges of making terroristic threats, criminal attempt to commit aggravated assault and firearms-related charges, the Atlanta Police Department said.
Image: Atlanta Police news conference screen grab
During a press conference Tuesday, Chief Darin Schierbaum told reporters that Cagle had arrived at the airport at 9:29 a.m. EDT Monday, and entered the airport two minutes later.
Cagle’s vehicle was flagged shortly after as improperly parked and given a citation, but police quickly determined it likely belonged to Cagle, and stationed an officer nearby in case the suspect returned.
Surveillance footage played during the press conference showed a heavyset man police identified as Cagle walking through the airport.
“We surmise that he’s scouting the area,” Schierbaum said, adding that the suspect then “proceeds to the TSA screening area where travelers queue up to be screened and proceed to their boarding gates. That’s where he seemed to have most of his attention.”
The call from the Cartersville Police Department to the Atlanta Police Department notifying them of the airport threat was made at 9:40. a.m. The suspect was apprehended at 9:54 a.m.
Officer Myesha Banks was the first person to identify Cagle based on the description of the suspect she received.
“Once the description came over of the shirt that he was wearing — the blue polo stripe shirt — that’s when I was able to identify him immediately,” she said.
Banks then apprehended the suspect.
Footage from body-worn cameras of the arrest was played during the press conference, showing the suspect placed on the ground and handcuffed behind his back.
Schierbaum said Cagle is a felon but did not state his prior conviction. Because of the suspect’s criminal record, Cagle is prohibited from owning a firearm, so the FBI is working to determine where he obtained the rifle.
The press conference was held prior to the federal charges being announced, and Schierbaum said that the suspect was to be transferred to federal custody.
