Atlanta Airport Threat Suspect Arrested with Rifle, Faces Multiple Charges

ATLANTA, TX – On Monday, October 20, 2025, at approximately 9:40 a.m., Atlanta Police officers responded to a “person armed” call at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport’s Domestic South Terminal. The alert originated from the Cartersville Police Department, which reported that a male suspect had made terroristic threats, claiming he intended to “shoot up” the airport.

Responding officers canvassed the area and issued a BOLO for the suspect and his vehicle. They located the man inside the South Terminal near the checkpoint area and immediately took him into custody.

A sweep of the outer perimeter revealed the suspect’s vehicle, where officers recovered a rifle from the backseat with assistance from Atlanta Police K-9 units. The scene was secured, and airport operations resumed with no active threats to the public.

The suspect, identified as 49-year-old Billy Jo Cagle, was charged with 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. The investigation remains ongoing.