AI misidentifies a bag of snacks as a gun, resulting in a male student being surrounded by armed police officers and handcuffed
In the United States, where shootings are occurring frequently, an increasing number of schools and businesses are introducing automatic firearm detection systems using surveillance cameras and AI. However, in a school in Baltimore, Maryland, a male student who had only a bag of Doritos in his pocket was mistakenly detected as carrying a gun and surrounded by armed police officers.
AI software mistakes student's bag of chips for a weapon
Teen detained after AI system mistakes chips for weapon outside Kenwood High School
https://foxbaltimore.com/news/local/teen-detained-after-ai-system-mistakes-chips-for-weapon-outside-kenwood-high-school
The person involved in the incident was 16-year-old Taki Allen, a student at Kenwood High School in Baltimore. Allen attended American football practice on the night of October 20, 2025, and was sitting down with friends after practice eating Doritos when about eight police cars arrived and Allen was surrounded by officers with guns drawn.
The officer ordered Allen to 'get on the ground,' handcuffed him behind his back, and then conducted a physical search. The officer showed Allen 'images showing that the AI detector determined Allen was carrying a weapon.' However, Allen was only holding a crumpled bag of Doritos, and did not have a gun.
Allen, speaking to reporters, said he feared for his life when he was surrounded by police officers and that it became difficult for him to go to school.
Allen just had a bag of Doritos like this.
Kenwood High School has installed a gun detection system from a company called
While Omnilert acknowledged the false positive, it said, 'The system worked as intended, prioritizing safety through prompt human review.' The school also promised to provide counseling services to affected students, but Allen said she never received any contact from the school.
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in AI, Posted by log1o_hf