Schools in Florida, Georgia, and Colorado will deploy Mithril Defense drones capable of pepper-spraying active shooters. Nine schools — three in Florida, five in Georgia, and one in Colorado — will house the plastic aircraft that can reach a threat within 15 seconds, flashing strobes, blaring sirens, spraying pepper gel, or ramming at 60 mph. "Once I get the drones on you, you just can't escape them," said Bill King, a retired Navy SEAL and Mithril co-founder.

The pilots follow a multibillion-dollar school security boom. Florida allocated $557,000 for its program starting at Deltona High School; Georgia approved roughly $500,000 for five schools. Justin Marston, Mithril's CEO, said the 2022 Uvalde massacre — where 19 students and two teachers died while police waited over an hour — inspired the project. He argued the first 120 seconds are critical.

Critics question the approach. Curtis Lavarello of the School Safety Advocacy Council warned drones might hit fleeing students or mistake officers for shooters. Jaclyn Corin, a Parkland survivor leading March for Our Lives, said funds should prioritize prevention over response. Axon Enterprise abandoned taser drones in 2022 after ethics-board resignations.

Florida will measure incidents, response times, and perceived safety. The state approved another $564,000 for the next school year as drones await first use at Deltona High.