Key takeaways Hackett Security has partnered with Austin-based Scylla to develop an AI-powered gun detection system that alerts authorities before shots are fired. The system analyzes camera feeds in...
A St. Louis-based security company has introduced an artificial intelligence system designed to detect firearms on security cameras and alert authorities before a shooter can fire a weapon, marking a new approach to preventing mass casualty incidents.
Hackett Security of St. Louis has partnered with Scylla, an AI company based in Austin, Texas, to create a system that integrates artificial intelligence with existing security cameras to identify weapons and instantly send alerts to authorities and building occupants.
The system analyzes video feeds from security cameras in real-time, scanning each frame for the presence of firearms. Mike Hackett, President and CEO of Hackett Security, demonstrated the technology's sensitivity during a test with FOX 2 News.
"It won't go off … until my hand comes back and touches the weapon," Hackett said while pulling a mock 9mm handgun from his waistband. An alarm immediately sounded, sending notifications to Hackett Security's command center and connected mobile devices.
"This is called the Hackett-Scylla system for gun detection. As the weapon is being detected, that message is sent to everyone who's on the premises, and on their phones, they get an alert. They see (video of the gunman) come down," Hackett explained.
The artificial intelligence instantly processes images from cameras and can be configured to notify police directly or route alerts through Hackett Security's monitoring team. The system can detect various firearms, including revolvers, handguns, long guns, and shotguns.
Tim Fitch, a security consultant and former St. Louis County Police Chief, emphasized the critical timing advantage the system could provide during active shooter incidents.
"If you think about when the loss of life happens in an active assailant situation, it happens from the time the gunfire starts until law enforcement gets on the scene," Fitch told FOX 2 News. "That's where most of the carnage occurs in these situations. Where this changes the game is that it's actually notifying authorities before the shooting starts."
Hackett noted the technology could have made a difference in recent mass shooting incidents, including the CVPA High School shooting in St. Louis. "If we had something like this before (the suspect) got to break the window (of a CVPA door) and climb into the building, we would have had a notification," he said.
The system can provide advanced warning of one to four minutes when someone with a weapon is approaching a building, potentially allowing security personnel to respond, doors to automatically lock, and lights to activate before an attacker gains entry.
According to Hackett, the system achieves nearly 100% accuracy and can distinguish between legitimate threats and benign objects.
The AI can recognize the difference between a maintenance worker holding a drill and someone holding a gun, addressing concerns about false alarms.
"It'll pick up a revolver, handguns, long guns, shotguns. That … saves … lives," Hackett said.
Installation typically costs $10,000 or less, with ongoing operational expenses of roughly $1 per camera per day, according to Hackett. The system integrates with existing security camera infrastructure, eliminating the need for complete equipment replacement.
The Hackett-Scylla system enters a growing market of AI-powered gun detection technologies being adopted by schools, businesses, and government facilities across the United States.
Similar systems from companies like ZeroEyes and Omnilert have been deployed in various states, with some legislatures passing funding measures to support their adoption in educational settings.
Missouri lawmakers passed legislation earlier this year offering $2.5 million in matching grants for schools to purchase firearms detection software designated as "qualified anti-terrorism technology," though the funding was not restricted to any specific vendor.
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