Accused Gunman At ATL Airport 'Wasn't In His Right Mind,' Family Says: Reports

ATLANTA, GA — The man arrested and accused of threatening to shoot up the world's busiest airport in Atlanta Monday "wasn’t in his right mind" and "wouldn’t hurt anybody," his brother told WAGA-TV.

Scott Nelson said his brother, Billy Joe Cagle, 49, of Cartersville, told the news outlet that Cagle was not at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport to hurt anyone.

Cagle was arrested after the family reported to authorities that he made threats via a live stream and authorities discovered an AR-15 assault rifle in his Chevy flatbed with 27 rounds, Atlanta Police Chief Darin Schierbaum said at a news conference held Monday.

The chief said Cagle was unarmed at the time of his arrest.

Friend Nick Roberts told WAGA-TV that Cagle, a Cartersville entrepreneur, made concerning Facebook posts during the weekend.

Roberts reportedly said during a call, Cagle told him he "needed to get back on his medication." He added Cagle said, "‘I love my life and I’m not going to do anything.’"

In a WRDW report, Roberts said Cagle loved his children and was a hard worker.

“He’s the kind of old cliche that he will give you the shirt off his back," Roberts said in the report. "If he sees you down, he will give you money type guy. But people go through things and people deal with them differently, and unfortunately, Billy may have made a bad decision."

Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens said Cagle has a history of mental illness, is a convicted felon and was in possession of a semiautomatic weapon.

"When you have those combinations together, it can turn out to be deadly," Dickens said. "… We're thankful to God and to good information and good intel and good people for this crisis being averted."

RELATED: Mass Shooting Plot At Atlanta Airport Thwarted: Officials

The events unfolded around 9:30 a.m. when Schierbaum said Cagle arrived at Hartsfield, parking his Chevy near the airport's South terminal. About 10 minutes, Cartersville Police alerted Atlanta Police that Cagle's family had reached out concerning the livestream; and 14 minutes later, Cagle was arrested.

U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-GA, said her daughter and son-in-law were at the airport Monday.

"Thank God the police caught the would-be mass shooter before he committed mass murder at the Atlanta airport," Greene tweeted. "I can’t thank the police enough for acting swiftly to save everyone."

Cagle was arrested on charges of terroristic threats, criminal attempt to commit aggravated assault, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, Schierbaum said.

Cartersville Police Capt. Greg Sparacio said Cagle is known to Cartersville police as he has a criminal history in the Bartow County town.

Records with the Georgia Department of Corrections showed Cagle was sentenced to eight years for a charge of possession of marijuana in connection with a case out of Bartow. However, records showed Cagle was released about three months later after starting his sentence in August

"We did have a tragedy averted today," Schierbaum said. "… We're here briefing you today on a success and not a tragedy because a family knew something and said something."

His first court appearance is scheduled for 11 a.m. Wednesday, WRDW reported.