September 3, 2025
Florida schools to test non-lethal drones in effort to combat gun violence
September 15, 2025
Select Florida schools to test non-lethal drones in effort to combat gun violence
Hailey Samples
WEAR-TV
September 2, 2025
2024 saw the second highest number of school shootings in our nation's history, according to the K-12 School Shooting Database.
Now, the company "Campus Guardian Angel" is targeting the threat with non-lethal drones for schools.
Officials say it's a first of its kind program -- and it's taking flight in Florida.
The drones won't replace physical officers.
"Children should go through education without the fear of gun violence," said Justin Marston, CEO and co-founder of Campus Gaurdian Angel. "We really need to find ways to better protect them from lunatics with guns."
The drones are designed to take down active threats in a school.
"We don't care if we get shot. We're a lump of plastic. We're entirely disposable," Marston said. "It greatly reduces the risk for an officer running into a room to confront somebody with a gun."
Marston says the drones will be operated from their headquarters in Austin, Texas.
With the touch of a button, the drones can be deployed within five seconds. They can also travel at high speeds and hit the target if needed.
They won't be flying 24/7. They will be stored in a box when they're not being used.
One box comes with six drones and costs $15,000.
The company suggests schools will need 3-15 of these boxes for maximum protection.
This year, Governor Ron DeSantis approved a trial run for them -- setting aside $557,000 for the pilot program.
The state will select three school districts in the state for the program.
A representative with the company says the school districts chosen will likely be announced this fall.
"Anything that the state's coming in and wanting to offer, we're definitely interested when there's no cost to us," said Kyle Kinser, director or protection services with the Escambia County school district. "But we definitely want to make sure we're being good stewards of taxpayer dollars."
The district already has a plan in place with physical officers if a school is under threat.
"Drones, that's exciting, that sounds fun," he said. "But we want to make sure that we're doing that in a way that is being responsible."
The company says once the school districts are announced, the plan is to start flying the drones in 2026.
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