AI System At A Baltimore, MD, High School Triggers Armed Police Response After Mistaking A Bag Of Chips For A Gun
An AI security system at Kenwood High School in Baltimore, MD, mistakenly flagged a student’s bag of chips as a gun, leading to a police confrontation, WBAL-TV 11 News reports.
Taki Allen was eating chips with friends after football practice on Monday, Oct. 20, 2025, when officers reportedly approached him with guns drawn.
“It was like eight cop cars that came pulling up for us. 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?’” Allen told WBAL.
He said officers ordered him to get on his knees and put his hands behind his back so they could handcuff him. After confirming he was unarmed, they found a bag of chips on the ground where he’d been previously standing.
Police told Allen an AI detector had mistaken the crumpled chip bag for a weapon when he was holding it. They also showed him the photo from the camera that activated the alert.
“I was just holding a Doritos bag — it was two hands and one finger out, and they said it looked like a gun,” Allen told WBAL.
The outlet shared a copy of a letter that Kenwood High School principal — listed on the school’s website as Catherine Smith — sent to parents after the incident.
According to the letter, school administrators received an alert around 7 p.m. EST that someone on campus may have a weapon. The Department of School Safety and Security quickly reviewed the footage from the school’s camera and canceled the alert after confirming there was no gun. Smith then contacted the school resource officer, who reported the incident to law enforcement for further support.
“We understand how upsetting this was for the individual that was searched as well as the other students who witnessed the incident. Our counselors will provide direct support to the students who were involved in this incident and are also available to speak with any student who may need support,” the letter read.
“Please know that ensuring the safety of our students and school community is one of our highest priorities,” it further read.
Baltimore County Public Schools Rolled Out AI Gun Detection In 2024
On May 21, 2024, Baltimore County Public Schools announced it would roll out firearm detection technology, using internal and external cameras, across all school buildings. The AI system identifies potential weapons and alerts school safety teams and law enforcement.
Since implementing the technology — provided by Omnilert — staff and Baltimore County police had already received several after-hours alerts when cameras detected look-alike firearms on school property, because it is “impossible” for the system to reliably distinguish them from real weapons, the notice stated.
“To avoid unintended consequences and as a reminder, firearms, including look-alike firearms, should not be brought onto school property at any time,” the notice read.
