The Georgia authorities has stopped the mishap that could potentially be a mass shooting at one of the world’s busiest airports on Monday, thanks to attacker's family.
Police identified the suspect as Billy Joe Cagle , 49, whose family called the Cartersville Police Department early Monday morning after seeing him livestream on social media about targeting Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport and warned that their rifle-wielding relative was headed there to “shoot it up", officials said, as per New York Post.
Several photos circulated on social media showing Billy Joe Cagle arriving at the airport and another photos are of the gun that he is carrying.
Atlanta Police Chief Darin Schierbaum told reporters that Cagle arrived at the airport around 9:29 am, entering the south domestic terminal.
Cartersville police notified Atlanta officers at 9:40 a.m., and Cagle was apprehended 14 minutes later, Schierbaum said. Officers later searched his Chevy flatbed truck, parked just outside the terminal, and found a Springfield AR-15-style rifle with 27 rounds of ammunition.
During a search of Cagle's Chevy flatbed parked outside the terminal, authorities found a Springfield AR-15 assault rifle with 27 rounds of ammunition. “We did have a tragedy averted today,” the police chief stated.
“I just a short while ago spoke to two officers in this department and thanked them, because if it was not for Officer Gibson and Officer Banks, and Sergeant Jones, that was providing them, I do believe that Mr Cagle was headed back to his truck to retrieve it and I do believe he was likely to use that weapon inside the crowded terminal,” Schierbaum added.
Cagle — who has a prior felony conviction — was charged with making terroristic threats, attempted aggravated assault, and multiple firearms offenses, police said.
Authorities described Cagle as having mental health challenges. In a Facebook post the day before the incident, he wrote, Cagle wrote, “I told my kids if anything happens to me sue, they can get 50-100 million.” In replies to concerned friends, he stated he takes medication for schizophrenia. “Sometimes I think I’m being set up or someone going to kill me. Shot me, set the house on fire, make it look like it blew up. Make it look like suicide,” he wrote in one reply.
Police identified the suspect as Billy Joe Cagle , 49, whose family called the Cartersville Police Department early Monday morning after seeing him livestream on social media about targeting Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport and warned that their rifle-wielding relative was headed there to “shoot it up", officials said, as per New York Post.
Several photos circulated on social media showing Billy Joe Cagle arriving at the airport and another photos are of the gun that he is carrying.
Atlanta Police Chief Darin Schierbaum told reporters that Cagle arrived at the airport around 9:29 am, entering the south domestic terminal.
Cartersville police notified Atlanta officers at 9:40 a.m., and Cagle was apprehended 14 minutes later, Schierbaum said. Officers later searched his Chevy flatbed truck, parked just outside the terminal, and found a Springfield AR-15-style rifle with 27 rounds of ammunition.
During a search of Cagle's Chevy flatbed parked outside the terminal, authorities found a Springfield AR-15 assault rifle with 27 rounds of ammunition. “We did have a tragedy averted today,” the police chief stated.
“I just a short while ago spoke to two officers in this department and thanked them, because if it was not for Officer Gibson and Officer Banks, and Sergeant Jones, that was providing them, I do believe that Mr Cagle was headed back to his truck to retrieve it and I do believe he was likely to use that weapon inside the crowded terminal,” Schierbaum added.
Cagle — who has a prior felony conviction — was charged with making terroristic threats, attempted aggravated assault, and multiple firearms offenses, police said.
Authorities described Cagle as having mental health challenges. In a Facebook post the day before the incident, he wrote, Cagle wrote, “I told my kids if anything happens to me sue, they can get 50-100 million.” In replies to concerned friends, he stated he takes medication for schizophrenia. “Sometimes I think I’m being set up or someone going to kill me. Shot me, set the house on fire, make it look like it blew up. Make it look like suicide,” he wrote in one reply.
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