Full Breakdown
Pepper-Spraying Drones Deployed in Pilot School Safety Programs
7/29/2026, 3:00:10 PM
Core Deployment Overview
Schools in three states are receiving non-lethal, pepper-spraying drones as part of the Campus Guardian Angel pilot. The program includes three high schools in Florida, five in Georgia and one in Colorado. Each site will house storage boxes containing plastic aircraft built by Austin-based Mithril Defense. Teachers can activate the drones during an active-shooter alert; the drones can breach windows, emit sirens, broadcast messages, and fire pepper-ball rounds. Manufacturers say the aircraft can reach a shooter within 15 seconds and stay airborne for about eight minutes on a single charge.
Background & Context
The concept was inspired by small combat drones used on Ukrainian battlefields after Russia’s 2022 invasion. Co-founder Bill King, a former senior enlisted Navy SEAL, observed the technology’s effectiveness and pursued a civilian adaptation to address school shootings in the United States. The initiative follows a wave of school-security spending that intensified after high-profile incidents such as the 2022 Robb Elementary School shooting.
Key Figures & Groups
- Bill King – Co-founder of Mithril Defense, former Navy SEAL.
- Khristof Oborski – Tactical operations director, former Austin police SWAT leader.
- Justin Marston – CEO of Campus Guardian Angel and founder of Mithril Defense.
- Sarah Kiesewetter – Head of John Adams Academy in Colorado.
Data & Statistics
- Schools participating: 9 total (3 in Florida, 5 in Georgia, 1 in Colorado).
- Drones per school: 30-60 units; Deltona High School will receive 39 drones.
- Funding: Florida’s 2026-27 budget adds $564,500, bringing its two-year investment to over $1.1 million; Georgia allocated $550,000; Colorado funds the program through its safety budget.
- Performance specs: Max speed 70 mph, flight time ~8 minutes, operating frequency 900 MHz, capable of breaking uncoated windows with a front lance.
Official Statements & Responses
Justin Marston emphasized rapid response, stating the system is designed to engage a shooter within seconds, distract the threat, and “degrade or incapacitate” the attacker before law-enforcement arrival. Bill King told the Washington Post that once a drone reaches a shooter, “you just can’t escape them.”
Criticism & Opposition
Tony Montalto, whose daughter was killed in the 2018 Parkland shooting, argued that reactive technologies divert attention from preventive measures, noting the drones “just pop up when needed.” Deputy Trevor Autrey, a resource officer at Deltona High School, praised the added “eyes and ears” the drones provide.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Proponents cite extensive simulated-scenario testing, yet no drone has been deployed in a real active-shooter incident. Critics point to the lack of empirical evidence on effectiveness, and the University of Florida study comparing drone response times with traditional officer deployment has not yet released results.
Verbatim Quotes
- “He started thinking about how can you introduce this type of system to be able to combat a growing problem in the United States – with school shootings,” — Khristof Oborski
- “We might be the first school in Colorado looking at [drone technology] but we certainly won’t be the last,” — Sarah Kiesewetter
- “So our goals are to respond in five seconds, to be on the shooter in 15 seconds, and to degrade or incapacitate in 60 seconds,” — Justin Marston
What’s Next
Florida’s budget allocation will fund additional districts, though the Department of Education has not confirmed expansion plans. Georgia’s legislature has earmarked $550,000 for the pilot, and the University of Florida is conducting an independent study on response-time advantages. Campus Guardian Angel aims to move from pilot sites to broader adoption pending performance data and legislative support.
