‘Rat-a-tatt-tatt’: Feds reveal new details in foiled Atlanta airport shooting

Atlanta airport threat: Joe Bailey Cagle in federal court

A Bartow County man accused of threatening to "shoot up" Atlanta airport now faces federal charges. The FBI says Billy Joe Cagle arrived armed with AR-15-style rifle and 27 rounds at the airport on Monday. He's currently being held without bond in federal detention.

ATLANTA - A Bartow County man is facing federal charges after authorities say he threatened to "shoot up" Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport and arrived there armed with an AR-15-style rifle.

What we know:

According to a federal criminal complaint filed Tuesday in the Northern District of Georgia, 49-year-old Billy Joe Cagle of Cartersville was arrested Monday morning in the south terminal of the world’s busiest airport after making violent threats during a FaceTime call.

What they're saying:

The complaint says a witness, along with Cagle's wife, contacted the Cartersville Police Department after Cagle reportedly told the witness that he was driving on Interstate 75 with a gun and planned to "shoot some cars." Moments later, Cagle allegedly called the witness again, showing airport signage and saying, "I’m at the airport. I’m gonna go rat-a-tatt-tatt," a phrase investigators believe was meant to imitate gunfire.

Federal criminal complaint reveals new details about foiled ATL shooting

The federal criminal complaint for Billy Joe Cagle is revealing new detailed about the foiled mass shooting at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.

Atlanta police officers located Cagle around 9:54 a.m. near the ticketing area between doors S1 and S2 and took him into custody without incident. His white Chevrolet 3500 pickup truck was found illegally parked outside the terminal, blocking a crosswalk. Inside, officers discovered a Springfield AR-15-style rifle, a magazine and 27 rounds of ammunition, according to the FBI affidavit.

Cagle has a prior felony conviction for marijuana possession in Bartow County from 2000, making it illegal for him to own a firearm. He now faces three federal charges: attempted act of violence at an international airport, interstate transmission of threats, and felon in possession of a firearm.

FBI Special Agent Donald Miller, who filed the complaint, wrote that Cagle’s statements and actions demonstrated intent to carry out violence at the airport.

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The other side:

Cagle's lawyer sent a statement to FOX 5 Atlanta on Wednesday afternoon saying:

"We are currently in a fact gathering mode. At the outset, we believe there’s some miscommunication to the public and at the appropriate time we look forward to clearing up any of these possible miscommunications. Our legal team looks forward to working with Renee Rockwell, a seasoned lawyer here in Atlanta."