Colorado school to deploy attack drone system to combat potential mass shooters

John Adams Academy, a public charter school under construction in Douglas County that is scheduled to open in August, plans to deploy attack drones developed by Texas-based Campus Guardian Angel. The drones have the ability to launch within seconds of a verified active shooter scenario and can livestream footage to law enforcement.

The drones would be operated by trained officers at the company’s center. They can deploy pepper gel in an attempt to hinder a suspect’s ability to carry out an attack, and are also capable of physically striking a suspect.

The technology has not yet been used in a real-world shooter incident.

The decision to install the system comes after Douglas County commissioners previously considered allocating $200,000 to enhance security at the school. The proposal was ultimately withdrawn over concerns about whether the money should be repurposed for a dedicated resource officer. Instead, John Adams Academy opted to purchase the drone system with its own funds.

Sarah Kiesewetter, headmaster of the academy, said the drones are just part of a “multi-tiered approach” that can aid law enforcement. Despite this, parents have still expressed concerns, particularly over the idea that their children could be casualties.

“What about a drone spewing these pellets and hurting a kid?” one parent told CBS Colorado. “It brings in so many ethical and legal issues that I just think it’s a really bad idea.”

“The potential for that to go wrong is so high,” said a local resident. “The idea that somebody in Austin is going to be the first responder to a school shooting, and doesn't have the awareness of what happens if we need to call this off, what happens if those drones are actually interfering with our law enforcement? There's big issues that we really need to explore."

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