Man with semi-automatic weapon threatened to 'shoot up' Atlanta airport, police say

Alexis Stevens and Jozsef Papp, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution on Oct 20, 2025

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ATLANTA — A Cartersville man in a mental health crisis threatened to “shoot up” the Atlanta airport Monday morning, according to investigators.

Billy Cagle, 49, made it to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport with a semi-automatic weapon, the city’s police chief said. But by then, Cagle’s family had alerted Cartersville police, who then contacted the Atlanta department, APD Chief Darin Schierbaum said.

Cagle was taken into custody before there was any violence.

“We did have a tragedy averted today,” Schierbaum said at an afternoon news conference.

Investigators believe Cagle was having a mental health crisis when he made the drive from Bartow County to the Atlanta airport. Video showed him entering the airport, where officers were ready to take him into custody.

Cagle’s weapon, along with 27 rounds of ammunition, was found in his flatbed truck, according to police.

“Twenty-seven or more lives could have been lost today because an individual came into Hartsfield-Jackson after being reported coming out of Cartersville with mental challenges,” Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens said.

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