Nashville schools’ AI gun detection system failed

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An artificial intelligence-powered gun detection software installed on cameras at Antioch High School failed to pick up a student’s gun during a deadly shooting Wednesday, according to a Metro Nashville Public Schools spokesman.

The software, known as Omnilert, is an addition to the camera network on all MNPS campuses. The district has invested more than $1 million in the software after the MNPS board approved a contract in February 2023.

“In this case, based on the location of the shooter and the position of the weapon, it did not activate the system,” MNPS spokesman Sean Braisted told The Tennessean.

But the system was activated when armed police officers entered the school, he said.

The shooting left 16-year-old Josselin Corea Escalante dead and a 17-year-old boy injured after a bullet grazed him. The shooter, 17-year-old Solomon Henderson, then fatally shot himself. Police are still investigating the shooting.

Metro Nashville Police Department John Drake said the shooter was a student at Antioch High and rode the bus to school Wednesday morning before going to the cafeteria where he confronted and shot Escalante. He then fired several shots before turning the gun on himself, Drake said.

MNPS director says she is committed to preventing future tragedies

Metro Nashville Public Schools Superintendent Adrienne Battle said Wednesday that several security measures are in place at Antioch High, including school resource officers, a secured vestibule at the entrance and cameras with weapon detection software.

She praised school staff, including school resource officers who rushed to the cafeteria from another part of the building, for responding quickly when the shooting unfolded.

“While we have been focused on resolving the immediate situation, we are committed to understanding how and why this happened and what more we can do to prevent such tragedies in the future,” Battle said in an emailed statement Wednesday. “It’s important to remember that our schools have historically been safe places for learning, friendship and growth. We cannot allow this tragedy to overshadow the positive experiences of our 80,000 students.”

Antioch High School will be closed for the rest of the week. The Southeast Community Center at 5260 Hickory Hollow Parkway is set up as a hub for resources that include meals, counseling and lunch boxes for Antioch High School staff, students and families. The rest of the MNPS schools will remain open this week and school counselors are on hand to provide support to students who need it.

This story has been updated to add more information and to correct the spelling of the weapon detection software.