Police arrest man at Atlanta airport after tip that he was planning to 'shoot it up'

[malaise]

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/oct/21/atlanta-airport-arrest

Police arrested a man at Atlanta’s bustling airport on Monday after getting a tip from his family that he was planning to shoot up the place – and found an assault rifle and ammunition in his truck outside, the city’s police chief said.

Billy Joe Cagle, of Cartersville, Georgia, had described his plan to shoot up the world’s busiest airport on a social media live stream, said Darin Schierbaum, the chief of police, during a news conference.

“The Cartersville police department was alerted by the family of Mr Cagle that he was streaming on social media that he was headed to the Atlanta airport, in their words, to ‘shoot it up’, and the family stated that he was in possession of an assault rifle,” Schierbaum said.

Cagle, 49, arrived at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta international airport in a Chevrolet pickup truck that was parked right outside the doors to the airport terminal. When police went to the vehicle, they found an AR-15 with 27 rounds of ammunition, Schierbaum said.

[EYESORE 9001]

1. Not much to go on as far as determining a motive

I hear nebulous reports of ‘mental issues’, including schizophrenia, but nothing much about what ‘triggered’ (no pun intended) this episode.

[malaise]

2. Yep

https://www.11alive.com/article/news/crime/atlanta-airport-thwarted-shooting-attempt-billy-joe-cagle-warrant-mug-shot/85-390052ef-02e5-4985-9687-697e498329e5

[stopdiggin]

4. going to suggest that 'motivation' (even though we all play the game) in a lot of this

even when 'articulated', is often so bizarro as to really mean little or nothing.

[EYESORE 9001]

5. I'd still like to know where he hung out on social media

It’s not like I want a forensic examination or anything - just like to know what sort of people he hated,, political inclinations, etc.

[stopdiggin]

6. yeah. and eventually we'll find out. like I said - we all play that game

And understand - I make no argument that the toxic stew that is the internet does not have any effect ..
But it's probably also worth noting that millions upon millions are also partaking of the toxic waste - without heading off to the airport to shoot at strangers. And the basic difference between those millions and this guy, is - 'nut-job'
(or as I said in first post 'bizarro' )
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[PittBlue]

3. My son and his family were there yesterday.

Flying home to Cleveland! My gawd.

[Just_Vote_Dem]

7. I was there yesterday afternoon

catching my return flight from a short family get-together. Had no idea something had happened till later, although our plane was a half hour late. That airport is roughly the size of a small city, heh

[malaise]

8. Yep

Been there a few times