Man Arrested at Atlanta Airport After Threatening to Shoot Up Terminal

On Thursday, October 20, 2025, around 9:40 a.m., officers at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport responded to a report of an armed individual at the Domestic South Terminal. The call came after Cartersville Police notified Atlanta Police that a man had allegedly made terroristic threats to “shoot up” the airport.

Multiple officers searched the terminal and issued a BOLO for the suspect and his vehicle. Officers located the man inside the South Terminal near the checkpoint and quickly detained him without incident.

While units canvassed the outer perimeter, officers located his vehicle and spotted a rifle inside. APD K-9 teams swept the truck, recovered the firearm from the backseat, and confirmed it was safe.

The suspect was identified as 49-year-old Billy Jo Cagle. He now faces several charges, including Terroristic Threats, Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony, Criminal Attempt to Commit Aggravated Assault, and Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon.

Airport operations returned to normal shortly after the arrest, and officials say there is no ongoing threat to the public. The investigation remains active.