Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson Worldwide Airport narrowly prevented a mass taking pictures on Monday, because of relations who alerted authorities to the tried shooter’s plans. Atlanta police arrested Billy Joe Cagle, of Cartersville, Georgia, earlier than he was in a position to undergo with it, seemingly saving a number of lives within the course of, ABC7 Information reviews. When officers searched Cagle’s Chevrolet pickup truck exterior the airport, they discovered a Springfield AR-15 rifle and 27 rounds of ammunition.
“The Cartersville Police Division was alerted by the household of Mr. Cagle that he was streaming on social media that he was headed to the Atlanta airport, of their phrases, to ‘shoot it up,’ and the household said that he was in possession of an assault rifle,” Atlanta Police Chief Darin Schierbaum mentioned at a information convention, the place he additionally mentioned Cagle had a earlier felony conviction. “We’re right here right now briefing you on a hit and never a tragedy as a result of a household noticed one thing and mentioned one thing.”
In accordance with Cartersville Police Captain Greg Sparacio, Cagle “had the intention to inflict hurt to as many individuals as he might.” However whereas they had been in a position to cease him earlier than he really harm anybody, he got here loads nearer than the parents who had been flying that day in all probability would have preferred. Surveillance video exhibits Cagle arriving on the airport at about 9:30 a.m. He then walked over to a TSA safety checkpoint and, in line with Schierbaum, had “excessive curiosity in that space.” If he had walked in taking pictures, issues seemingly would have ended very otherwise, however as a substitute, Atlanta police already had a photograph of him supplied by the household and had been in a position to arrest him with out incident.
Dealing with federal expenses
Atlanta’s 11 Alive Information additionally reviews that Cagle is now in federal custody and faces a slew of federal expenses, together with making terroristic threats, felony try to commit aggravated assault, possession of a firearm in the course of the fee of a felony and possession of a firearm by a felon. In accordance with Schierbaum, Atlanta police additionally plan to research the place he acquired the rifle, “which he was not in a position to legally possess.”
“As alleged on this grievance, Cagle senselessly threatened to do heinous violence to harmless vacationers, on the world’s busiest airport, with a high-powered weapon that he had no authorized proper to own,” U.S. Lawyer Theodore S. Hertzberg mentioned in an announcement. “Due to the vigilance of different residents and the short motion of legislation enforcement, a horrible tragedy was averted.”
“I do know individuals are going to look at this and assume otherwise, however as an individual, he is dude,” household good friend Nick Roberts Advised Urduas a result of that is what they at all times say proper after somebody will get arrested for a critical crime. Roberts additionally claimed he’d referred to as Cagle the day earlier than his arrest after a social media put up raised some issues. “I used to be shocked, very shocked,” Roberts defined. “As a result of the best way he left the dialog final evening, I had no inclination that he was pondering of something like this.”
And but, regardless of what Republicans would love so that you can imagine, Cagle was not a member of TRANSTIFA. When Meidas Contact dug into his social media historical pastit discovered he recurrently shared pro-Trump posts and defended his function within the January 6 revolt try. Cagle additionally seemed to be a giant fan of the Confederacy, even going so far as to share a put up that claimed the Accomplice flag is a Christian image. Different posts confirmed him to be a gun fanatic. You realize, precisely the type of individual you’ll count on to try to shoot up an airport.