Billy Joe Cagle, a resident of Cartersville, Georgia and a convicted felon, has been charged in federal court following allegations that he threatened to commit violence at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia, Cagle faces charges of attempted violence at an international airport, interstate communication containing threats to injure another person, and possession of a firearm by a felon.
“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.”
FBI Atlanta Special Agent in Charge Paul Brown commented on the importance of public awareness: “This is a perfect example of ‘See Something, Say Something’ in action. 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.”
Court documents state that on October 20, 2025, during a FaceTime call while driving near Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, Cagle allegedly made threats including stating he would “shoot up the airport” and saying “I’m at the airport, and I’m gonna go rat-a-tat-tat,” before ending the call.
The recipient of this call reported the threat to Cartersville Police Department officers who then coordinated with Atlanta Police Department. Authorities circulated images of Cagle and information about his vehicle.
Police located Cagle inside the airport terminal soon after receiving these reports and arrested him without incident. His Chevrolet truck was found parked outside the terminal entrance blocking a crosswalk; inside it officers recovered an AR-15-style rifle and 27 rounds of ammunition.
Cagle has been formally charged under Title 18 United States Code Sections 37(a), 875(c), and 922(g)(1) relating respectively to attempted violence at an international airport, interstate communications containing threats to injure another person, and possession of a firearm by someone previously convicted of a felony offense.
Authorities remind that all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt in court.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation is leading the investigation with support from Cartersville Police Department, Atlanta Police Department, and Clayton County District Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul Jones is prosecuting the case.
Further details are available through the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia at http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.
