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Atlanta airport attack suspect: Is he competent?
Billy Joe Cagle, the Bartow County man accused of planning a mass shooting attack at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport will undergo a mental evaluation while remaining in federal custody.
ATLANTA - The Bartow County man accused of planning a mass shooting attack at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport will undergo a mental evaluation while remaining in federal custody.
What we know:
Billy Joe Cagle, 49, who was arrested at the airport in October with a weapon in his possession, was not required to appear in court Thursday for a procedural conference. Prosecutors and defense attorneys agreed an evaluation is necessary, but disagreed on whether Cagle should be released on bond to complete it at an inpatient facility.
The court ultimately ruled that the evaluation will take place at the federal facility where Cagle is currently being held.
His defense team stated they still intend to pursue bond after the evaluation, emphasizing their goal of ensuring safety for both Cagle and the public.
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Airport attack suspect to undergo mental exam
A Bartow County man accused of planning a mass shooting at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport will undergo a mental evaluation while remaining in federal custody.
The backstory:
Cagle's family called 911 on Oct. 20 to report their concerns about his plans to "shoot up" the world's busiest airport. Officers say he was inside the airport when they took him into custody, and found a loaded AR-15-style rifle with 27 rounds in a truck parked outside the terminal.
At a federal court appearance Oct. 23, prosecutors revealed that Cagle’s wife told investigators he suffers from schizophrenia, had been off his medication, and had made the threats during a divorce-related dispute.
Court documents show he now faces multiple federal charges, including attempted violence at an international airport, interstate transmission of threats to injure, and felon in possession of a firearm.
His past criminal history is limited and nonviolent: a 1999 conviction for marijuana distribution after a police-controlled buy; court records show no other violent offenses.
Since the arrest, family and friends have told FOX 5 Atlanta they believe Cagle was suffering a "severe mental health crisis" in the days leading up to the airport incident.
With the judge denying a request to release Cagle on bond while the evaluation proceeds, defense attorneys say they intend to revisit the bond issue after the mental‐health assessment is completed.
What they're saying:
Cagle was not required to attend Thursday’s pre-trial conference. His attorneys spoke with reporters afterward and said the 49-year-old has a documented mental health history.
Defense attorney Preston Halliburton said the legal process cannot move forward without a full assessment.
"We take the allegations against Mr. Cagle very seriously. But we also take this thing called the U.S. Constitution very seriously. We take due process very seriously. Part of the due process is a complete and full mental health evaluation. So that's what we're seeking," said Halliburton.
Prosecutor Paul Jones and defense attorney Konrad Ziegler agreed the evaluation is necessary, but they could not reach a deal on whether Cagle should be released on bond to complete it elsewhere. The judge ruled he will remain in federal custody.
Halliburton added that the team is being careful with what they disclose.
"We don't want to talk about anyone's mental health status, as you can understand there are certain stigmas that go along with that. But I can tell you it has been a pleasure working with him, and he has been more than cooperative," he said.
Ziegler said the defense expects the results to support a future request for bond.
"We certainly anticipate what the results of the mental health evaluation is going to be. And based on what we believe those results are going to be, we will be, after that, moving for bond to get him released into an inpatient facility," Ziegler said.
Cagle's attorneys say they will continue pursuing release once the evaluation is complete.
What's next:
Attorneys say Cagle suffers from past mental health issues but declined to elaborate. They report he remains in "good spirits." The evaluation must be completed within 45 days.
The court ruled that the evaluation will take place at a federal detention facility, possibly where Cagle is currently being held.