AI security cameras with weapon detection help Tennessee campus respond to hoax shooter threat

University of Tennessee at Chattanooga deployed its AI-powered security camera system to help respond to a false active shooter report last Thursday, marking a real-world test of how artificial intelligence can assist law enforcement during campus emergencies. The incident demonstrated both the potential and limitations of AI security technology, as the system correctly identified that the first weapon detection occurred only when police officers entered the building, providing early evidence that no armed suspect was present.

How the system works: UTC has installed more than 900 cameras across campus, with about 200 equipped with Volt AI software that can detect weapons, fights, fires, and people who have fallen.

• When the hoax 911 call came in, officers immediately used Volt AI to assess the situation and help determine the location of any potential threats.
• The AI system showed its first weapon detection when responding officers entered the building, giving police an early indication there may not have been an armed suspect.
• Despite this technological insight, officers still proceeded with a full cautious sweep of the campus before issuing an all-clear more than an hour later.

What they’re saying: Brett Fuchs, UTC’s director of public safety, expressed confidence in the system’s capabilities for future incidents.

• “If we had an armed assailant on Thursday of last week, on 8/21, we’re confident that the system would have helped tell us exactly where that assailant is to be able to get law enforcement directly to that location,” Fuchs said.
• “Some cameras… it may not be needed, right? Some cameras… it may be duplicative, but as many cameras as we can possibly get it on, the better,” he added regarding expansion plans.

The bigger picture: UTC regularly tests and reviews the AI system to improve performance and set realistic expectations about its detection capabilities.

• Fuchs noted that testing serves dual purposes: “Some of it’s to help improve the technology, some of it’s to test it — to know what we can expect it to pick up.”
• The university hopes to expand the AI technology to more cameras across campus, though not every camera location may require the enhanced detection capabilities.

Why this matters: The incident provides a real-world case study of how AI security systems can support emergency response while highlighting the continued importance of human judgment and thorough safety protocols, even when technology suggests a threat may not be present.