A Texas-based company called Campus Guardian Angel is rolling out pepper-spraying drones to multiple schools across the United States as a tactical response system for active shooter incidents. The drones can be operated remotely from thousands of miles away and are equipped with two-way communication capabilities, allowing the company’s response team to communicate with law enforcement and school staff during an emergency.
The drones feature several operational capabilities, including the ability to remain airborne for approximately eight minutes per battery charge and fly through uncoated windows using a front lance mechanism. Each aircraft is equipped with sirens, air poppers that produce loud bangs, and a pepper launcher capable of firing pepper balls at a shooter. According to the company, the drones can also deliver kinetic energy strikes against a confirmed attacker to incapacitate them. The operational strategy involves deploying multiple drones in waves to keep an active shooter occupied until law enforcement can apprehend them.
The program is being implemented across several states. In Georgia, four high schools are participating as pilot sites, with the state legislature allocating $550,000 to fund the initiative. In Florida, Deltona High School plans to install 39 drones for the upcoming school year, while two other schools are also preparing to adopt the technology. John Adams Academy in Colorado is also implementing the system. Company leadership, including co-founder Bill King, a former Navy SEAL senior enlisted leader, indicated that the drone concept was inspired by small drone applications observed during the conflict in Ukraine.
The initiative has generated mixed reactions. Some school officials view the drones as a necessary security measure, with one Colorado academy head suggesting other schools in the state would likely follow. However, critics question the approach’s focus on response rather than prevention. Tony Montalto, whose daughter was killed in the 2018 Parkland school shooting, expressed concern that the drones address reaction to violence rather than prevention efforts. Advocates for prevention-focused policies continue to emphasize the need for upstream solutions to reduce gun violence in schools.
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