AI Gun Detection System Mistakes Doritos Bag for Weapon
In the Baltimore area, Sixteen-year-old Taki Allen was swarmed by armed officers outside Kenwood High School after an AI gun detection system misidentified his crumpled Doritos bag as a firearm. The incident happened just 20 minutes after football practice this past Monday (10-20-25).
Allen, a Black student, was eating chips with friends when the AI triggered an alert. Within minutes, eight police cars arrived, officers pointed guns at Allen, handcuffed him, and searched him for weapons.
How the AI Gun Detection Error Unfolded
The software used in Baltimore County Public Schools is made by Omnilert, a company claiming 99% accuracy in detecting guns through live video analysis. In this case, the shiny Doritos wrapper was flagged by the AI as resembling a weapon.
Omnilert’s human monitors reportedly reviewed the footage and confirmed the alert before contacting police. But what they saw was a crumpled chip bag, not a gun.
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Police Response Escalated Quickly and Alarmed Student
Allen described the terrifying moment when police pointed guns at him and ordered him to the ground. The entire encounter lasted around 30 minutes before officers realized there was no actual weapon.
“Police showed up… and then they all came out with guns pointed at me… He told me to get on my knees, arrested me, and put me in cuffs.”
“The first thing I was wondering was, am I gonna die? Are they going to kill me?”
School and Tech Officials Defend System Amid Backlash
Omnilert CEO Chris Sprowls stated that the system “functioned as intended” and called the incident a rare false positive. He said the AI image “closely resembled a gun being held.”
Superintendent Myriam Rogers announced an immediate review of the AI system’s use. She emphasized that the goal of any tech should be to improve, not endanger, student safety.
“We must ensure our technology enhances, not endangers, student safety.”
Community and National Outrage Over AI, Policing, and Race
The story sparked outrage across social media, especially in Black communities. Critics say AI systems, like facial recognition and object detection, often fail more with Black individuals.
Groups like the ACLU and NAACP are calling for audits of AI use in schools. One Reddit user summed it up: “That kid nearly died over that bag of chips… The great weakness of AI.”
History of False Positives in School Surveillance Tech
Omnilert’s system, used in schools since 2023, has a history of false alerts. Other school districts have seen similar incidents, including one in Texas where a student’s sandwich triggered an alert.
False positives are estimated at 5–10%, according to early pilot studies. Critics say these mistakes erode trust and create fear, especially among students of color.
Why AI Gun Detection Raises Serious Concerns
AI gun detection tools are being marketed as ways to prevent mass shootings. But as this incident shows, flawed systems can escalate into dangerous police responses.
Post-Parkland, more than 1,000 U.S. school districts have adopted similar AI surveillance tools. Baltimore County’s program alone costs $2.5 million annually, funded in part by federal grants.
What Makes This Case So Alarming
The fact that a snack bag led to a high-risk police encounter raises questions about the real-world safety of these tools. Many wonder if Allen’s race played a role in how seriously the threat was treated.
For Allen, the trauma lingers. He now avoids hanging around after school, worried that another snack might trigger another armed response.
Calls for Reform and Transparency Grow Louder
As the public demands answers, school officials have paused AI alerts for now. Allen’s family is consulting attorneys, though no lawsuit has been filed yet.
Media outlets, civil rights advocates, and tech experts are urging school districts to reconsider their use of AI gun detection and to put student safety—not surveillance—first.
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