Atlanta police arrest Georgia man over shooting threats at airport

A Georgia man was apprehended at Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport on Monday after relatives alerted authorities he had threatened to "shoot it up" during a social media broadcast.

Police discovered an AR-15 rifle and multiple ammunition rounds inside Billy Joe Cagle's parked truck moments before the 49-year-old entered the terminal building.

The Cartersville resident's family notified local police after witnessing his online declaration that he was traveling to the world's busiest airport armed with an assault weapon.

Atlanta Police Chief Darin Schierbaum confirmed officers intercepted Cagle near security checkpoints using photographs provided by concerned relatives, preventing what authorities described as intended mass violence.

Cagle now faces multiple felony charges including terroristic threats, attempted aggravated assault and illegal firearm possession by a convicted felon.

The successful intervention highlighted how "a family saw something and said something," according to Schierbaum, who credited their vigilance with averting potential tragedy at the transportation hub.

The suspect's high school acquaintance acknowledged Cagle's recent mental health struggles, noting public social media posts about schizophrenia treatment before the incident.

Federal authorities have joined the investigation to determine how the previously convicted felon obtained the assault rifle recovered from his vehicle parked directly outside terminal doors.