A 49-year-old man was arrested Monday morning at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport after allegedly threatening to shoot up one of its terminals, according to authorities. The airport, one of the world’s busiest travel hubs, was placed on high alert following the incident.

Atlanta police identified Billy Joe Cagle, a Cartersville resident with a history of mental health challenges, as the suspect. Cagle faces charges including terroristic threats, possession of a firearm during a felony, criminal attempt to commit aggravated assault, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Law enforcement reported that he was found in possession of 27 rounds of ammunition and a Springfield AR-15 rifle in his truck at the airport.

Mayor Andre Dickens stated that Cagle’s family alerted Cartersville police about his apparent mental state and threats, prompting a coordinated response between local agencies. Authorities said Cagle had livestreamed plans to “shoot it up” before arriving at the airport just after 9 a.m. He was spotted entering the South Terminal, which serves Delta Air Lines passengers, around 9:31 a.m.

Airport security and police conducted an immediate search, leading to Cagle’s arrest inside the terminal at 9:54 a.m. Video footage showed officers using two sets of handcuffs to restrain the 6-foot-3, 320-pound suspect, who resisted violently. A safety sweep uncovered his Chevrolet flatbed pickup parked outside the S1 doors, containing the loaded AR-15 with 27 rounds in the back seat. The weapon was secured, and the area was declared safe.

Atlanta Police Chief Darin Schierbaum noted that Cagle’s criminal history includes a prior drug-possession arrest and that investigators are still determining his motive. Dickens emphasized the danger posed by individuals with mental health issues and access to firearms, stating, “When you have these combinations together, it can turn out to be deadly.”

The case remains open, with no further details released about Cagle’s cooperation or statements to authorities.