The rise of artificial intelligence in public safety has been both celebrated and criticized. While many praise its potential to detect threats quickly and prevent tragedy, others warn about the dangers of relying on flawed systems. The case of 16-year-old Baltimore student Taki Allen, who was handcuffed by armed police after an AI system mistook his crisp packet for a firearm, has reignited this debate across the United States. The incident, which took place at a Baltimore County school, has raised serious concerns about the accuracy, oversight, and accountability of AI-powered security tools used in educational institutions.
For Taki Allen, what began as an ordinary day after football practice turned into a frightening experience. A simple mistake by an algorithm led to a dangerous confrontation with armed police. The incident highlights how technological errors, combined with human miscommunication, can quickly escalate into real-world danger.
An AI Error Turns Into a Traumatic Encounter
According to local reports, Taki Allen had just finished football practice when he bought a bag of Doritos and put the empty packet into his pocket. About twenty minutes later, he was surrounded by several police cars, with officers pointing guns at him. “Police showed up, like eight cop cars, and then they all came out with guns pointed at me talking about getting on the ground,” Taki told WMAR-2 News.
The Baltimore County Police Department confirmed that Allen was handcuffed but not formally arrested. “The incident was safely resolved after it was determined there was no threat,” the department stated. Officers said they acted “appropriately and proportionally” based on the information available to them at the time.
For the teenager, however, the event was deeply distressing. “He told me to get on my knees, arrested me and put me in cuffs,” Taki said. “Now, I wait inside after football practice. I don’t think it’s safe enough to go outside, especially eating a bag of chips or drinking something.”
The confusion began when an AI-powered gun detection system used by Baltimore County Public Schools flagged an image it believed to be a firearm. The system, developed by the company Omnilert, scans camera feeds for potential weapons and sends alerts to human reviewers for verification. Once verified, the information is sent to the school’s safety team.
A 16-year-old Black student says he was held at gunpoint and handcuffed outside his Baltimore County school after AI wrongly flagged his bag of chips as a weapon. He could’ve been injured or lost his life over a false alert. This trauma should not be “protocol.” pic.twitter.com/3syty0KpXk
— Ben Crump (@AttorneyCrump) October 25, 2025
In this case, although human reviewers reportedly confirmed that the object was not a gun, the school principal mistakenly proceeded with further reporting. In a letter to parents, Principal Kate Smith explained that the safety team “quickly reviewed and cancelled the initial alert after confirming there was no weapon.” However, she still contacted the school resource officer, who in turn called the local police precinct for backup. The situation that could have been resolved quietly instead escalated into an unnecessary armed response.
Flawed Systems and Human Oversight
The incident demonstrates how both technology and human error can work together to create a dangerous outcome. Omnilert later stated that its system had “operated as designed.” The company explained that it detected what looked like a firearm, had the image verified by its review team, and passed the information to the school’s safety officers “within seconds.” It expressed regret for the incident but maintained that the system’s main purpose—to ensure safety—was achieved.
However, the company’s defense raises serious concerns. If the system worked correctly, why did a harmless student end up in handcuffs? The issue lies not only in the technology’s shortcomings but also in the way information is handled by people who depend on it. The school’s internal communication broke down, showing how a simple error can have serious consequences when combined with a lack of coordination.
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AI gun detection systems are often marketed as reliable tools that can prevent school shootings and keep students safe. Yet these systems are far from perfect. Their accuracy depends on lighting conditions, camera angles, object shapes, and motion. Even small items like smartphones, umbrellas, or shiny packaging can be mistaken for weapons.
Omnilert’s own website admits that “real-world gun detection is messy.” In other words, real environments are unpredictable, and the systems are not foolproof. When a false alert occurs in a high-stress setting such as a school, the reaction can be extreme—especially when police are involved.
Experts have long warned about the risk of “automation bias,” where people tend to overtrust technology and act without questioning it. In this case, even though the AI alert was cancelled, human decision-makers acted as though it was still valid, leading to an unnecessary police response. The situation shows how human oversight is just as important as technological precision.
Growing Scrutiny of AI in Schools
The incident has triggered public outrage and calls for an investigation into how AI systems are used in Baltimore County schools. Local councilman Izzy Pakota announced that he would push for a review of the district’s AI-powered weapon detection program. “I am calling on Baltimore County Public Schools to review procedures around its AI-powered weapon detection system,” he wrote on Facebook.
This case is part of a larger national conversation about the growing use of surveillance and artificial intelligence in schools. Over the past decade, many U.S. school districts have invested in AI-based safety tools that promise to detect weapons, monitor student behavior, and identify threats. However, the effectiveness of these systems remains highly debated.
In a similar situation last year, Evolv Technology—a company providing AI-based weapon scanners to schools and public venues—was banned from making unsupported claims about its technology’s accuracy. Despite being used in thousands of locations, Evolv faced criticism after reports suggested it failed to detect certain weapons. The parallels to Omnilert’s case are clear: both companies claim to enhance public safety, but both have faced backlash after their tools misfired.
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Critics argue that these systems can do more harm than good, especially when false positives lead to frightening or even dangerous confrontations. They also raise concerns about privacy and the psychological toll on students who feel constantly watched or unfairly targeted. For Taki Allen, the personal impact has been significant. His statement that he now avoids going outside after practice shows the lasting fear caused by the incident. The sense of safety that schools are meant to provide has been replaced by anxiety and distrust. The trauma of being confronted by police with guns drawn—because of an algorithm’s mistake—is not easily forgotten.
Meanwhile, companies like Omnilert continue to insist that such systems are necessary to prevent tragedy. The firm stated that while the object was later found to be harmless, the process worked “as intended” to protect students. Many observers, however, see this as a weak justification. When an effort to protect students leads to them being treated like suspects, the purpose of safety technology comes into question.
This case highlights the urgent need for clearer policies, better training, and greater accountability in how schools use AI surveillance. Technology should assist human judgment, not replace it. Administrators and police officers must have clear guidelines on how to respond to AI alerts, ensuring that precaution does not turn into panic. AI can be a valuable tool in improving safety, but it must be handled with care. Before trusting machines with life-and-death decisions, schools must understand their limits and prepare for errors. Real safety comes not from speed or automation but from thoughtful, responsible action.
The story of Taki Allen stands as a warning about the dangers of placing too much faith in artificial intelligence without proper checks. As schools and governments continue to expand the use of AI for security, they must remember that technology is only as reliable as the humans who control it. When those systems fail, as they did in Baltimore, the consequences can be immediate and deeply personal. In the end, the lesson is clear. The pursuit of safety should never come at the cost of student dignity, trust, or peace of mind. No teenager should have to fear being handcuffed for carrying a bag of crisps.