AI Security System Mistakes Doritos Bag for Gun at Maryland High School
Key Points
- Kenwood High School student handcuffed after AI system flagged Doritos bag as a gun.
- Principal confirmed the gun‑detection alert was reviewed and cancelled.
- School resource officer involved local police before alert cancellation was known.
- Omnilert expressed regret but maintained the system operated as designed.
- Incident highlights challenges of AI‑based security in schools.
A student at Kenwood High School in Baltimore County was handcuffed and searched after the school's AI gun‑detection system flagged his bag of Doritos as a possible firearm. School officials later cancelled the alert, but the incident prompted a response from the school's principal and the system's operator, Omnilert, which expressed regret while stating the process functioned as intended.
Incident Overview
A Kenwood High School student in Baltimore County, Maryland, was reportedly handcuffed and searched after an AI‑powered gun detection system identified his Doritos bag as a possible firearm. The student, identified as Taki Allen, said he was made to kneel, place his hands behind his back and was cuffed.
School Response
Principal Katie Smith said the school's security department reviewed and cancelled the gun‑detection alert. However, the alert cancellation was not immediately recognized, leading the school resource officer to involve local police. The principal’s statement to parents noted the cancellation and the subsequent actions taken.
Company Reaction
Omnilert, the company operating the AI system, issued a statement expressing regret over the incident and concern for the student and community. The company also asserted that the process functioned as intended despite the false alarm.