Crime
Billy Joe Cagle faces charges after threatening to shoot up Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport
ATLANTA, GA — Authorities have identified the suspect in a foiled shooting plot at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport as 49-year-old Billy Joe Cagle, a convicted felon from Cartersville, Georgia.
Officials say a potential mass shooting was prevented through the swift actions of law enforcement and the quick response of Cagle’s family.
According to investigators, Cagle live-streamed threats early Friday morning, stating his intent to “shoot up” the Atlanta airport—the busiest in the world.
His family, alarmed by the video, immediately contacted Cartersville police, who then notified the Atlanta Police Department (APD).
Within minutes, officers located and arrested Cagle inside the South Terminal, before any harm could occur.
~9:30 a.m. ET: Cagle arrived at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport unarmed, reportedly to “scope out” the area after making violent threats on social media.
~9:40 a.m. ET: Cagle’s family saw his livestream and, fearing he was serious, contacted local authorities.
~9:42 a.m. ET: Atlanta police officers, acting on the tip from Cartersville PD, located and detained Cagle without incident inside the airport terminal.
A search of Cagle’s Chevrolet pickup truck, parked outside the airport, uncovered a Springfield AR-15 semi-automatic rifle and 27 rounds of ammunition. Police say Cagle, a convicted felon, was prohibited from owning or possessing firearms.
Atlanta Police Chief Darin Schierbaum stated that Cagle had intended to return to his truck, retrieve the rifle, and re-enter the terminal to open fire.
“He came in to scope it out. He was going to go back out to his truck and get the gun and come back in and do what he said he was going to do,” Chief Schierbaum said.
Mayor Andre Dickens praised the rapid coordination between agencies and the family’s intervention, saying,
“This could have been tragic but was averted. A crisis was averted today — 27 or more lives could have been lost.”
Cagle has been charged with:
- Terroristic threats
- Criminal attempt to commit aggravated assault
- Possession of a firearm by a convicted felon
- Possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony
Officials say Cagle may have been suffering from a mental health episode at the time of the incident.
Authorities emphasized that the quick thinking of Cagle’s family and the rapid communication between Cartersville Police and the APD were instrumental in preventing what could have been a devastating mass casualty event.
“This was a close call,” Mayor Dickens said. “Thanks to the decisive actions of law enforcement — and a family who did the right thing — countless lives were saved.”
The investigation remains ongoing, with federal authorities assisting to determine whether additional charges will be filed.
Crime
16-year-old Devajae Christopher and 17-year-old Tamarion West killed in Auburn Gresham shooting
CHICAGO, IL — Chicago police have identified 16-year-old Devajae “DJ” Christopher, known by friends as “Lil Spazz,” and 17-year-old Tamarion West, known as “Stewie,” as the two teenage victims found shot to death early Wednesday morning in the Auburn Gresham neighborhood.
A third victim, a 21-year-old man, was wounded in the same incident.
According to the Chicago Police Department (CPD), officers were dispatched to the 8100 block of South Marshfield Avenue around 8:00 a.m. on Wednesday, October 22, following reports of someone claiming they had been shot.
When first responders arrived, they discovered a 16-year-old male on the second-floor back porch of a residential building suffering from multiple gunshot wounds to the head. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Upon entering the apartment, officers observed significant blood evidence and numerous shell casings scattered throughout the interior.
As they continued clearing the residence, they located a 17-year-old male in a hallway with multiple gunshot wounds to the head and chest. He was also pronounced deceased at the scene.
Officers then proceeded to the third floor, where they found a 21-year-old man hiding under a bed, suffering from a gunshot wound to the arm.
He was transported by the Chicago Fire Department to Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, where he was listed in fair condition.
A 13-year-old boy was also discovered hiding inside the residence but was physically unharmed.
Witnesses reported seeing three males fleeing the building shortly after gunfire erupted.
One nearby resident told investigators that the shooting may have occurred between 4:00 a.m. and 5:00 a.m., when it was still dark outside, saying they heard multiple gunshots before gathering their children to pray.
At this time, no suspects are in custody, and detectives from the CPD Area Two Bureau of Detectives are conducting a comprehensive investigation.
This tragic shooting marks the third incident within 24 hours in which multiple Chicago teenagers were shot, leaving three dead.
Authorities are urging anyone with information to contact the Chicago Police Department’s 6th District at (312) 745-3610, submit a tip anonymously through CPDTIP.com, or reach out to Cook County Crime Stoppers at 1-800-535-STOP (7867) for a potential reward leading to an arrest.
The investigation remains ongoing.