AI gun detection system misidentifies student's snack bag as weapon at Baltimore high school
An AI gun detection system deployed at Kenwood High School in Baltimore County mistakenly identified a student's bag of Doritos as a weapon, prompting an armed police response. The student was handcuffed and searched before authorities determined no weapon was present, and county council members have called for a review of the system.
What happened
On Monday evening outside Kenwood High School in Baltimore County, Maryland, Omnilert's AI gun detection system sent an alert to school and police that a student had a weapon. The image that triggered the alert showed a student holding a bag of Doritos.
Baltimore County Police responded with officers carrying guns and approached the student, Taki Allen, instructing him to get on the ground. Allen was handcuffed and searched, but no weapons were found.
Reported impact
Allen told WBAL-TV 11 News: 'At first, I didn't know where they were going until they started walking toward me with guns, talking about, "Get on the ground," and I was like, "What?"' He was made to kneel, handcuffed, and searched.
The school's principal, Kate Smith, wrote to families: 'We understand how upsetting this was for the individual that was searched as well as the other students who witnessed the incident.' Counselors were made available to provide support.
Index analysis
Omnilert stated that 'the image that was sent to their personnel closely resembled a gun' and that the system 'operated as designed --- detecting a possible threat, routing it for human review, and ensuring rapid, informed decision-making.' The company said the event was marked as resolved within moments.
Baltimore County Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Myriam Rogers said the school system installed Omnilert in 2023 and that 'the program did what it was supposed to do.' The Department of School Safety and Security reviewed and canceled the initial alert after confirming there was no weapon.
Governance controls
Baltimore County councilmembers Julian Jones and Izzy Patoka called on school officials and police to review the Omnilert AI Gun Detection System following the false alarm. Councilmember Jones asked: 'How did it come to be that we had police officers with guns drawn approaching a kid because of a bag of Doritos?'
Classification
Sources and evidence
Sources not yet published
This record was researched and written by the Index from original reporting. Its sources are still being verified by an editor, and they are listed here once that check is complete. Until then the record carries no reviewer.