Florida will soon begin piloting a drone-based security system designed to assist law enforcement in responding to school shootings. The system, known as Campus Guardian Angel and developed in Texas, will be introduced in three Florida school districts after receiving approval from Governor Ron DeSantis. Florida has recorded more than 60 school shooting incidents since 2018, according to the K-12 School Shooting Database, fueling urgent calls for new safety strategies. The drones are intended to respond within seconds to active shooter threats. Newsweek reports of the program: Each drone is stored inside a secure on-campus box and can be deployed in under five seconds when a silent panic button is triggered. Operated remotely by a specialized team in Texas, the drones transmit live video to police and can, in some cases, fire non lethal projectiles to slow or distract a suspect. The pilot project will receive $557,000 in state funding under Florida’s 2025–2026 budget. Permanent drone stations are expected to be installed in September and October, with live operations beginning in January. Campus Guardian Angel’s Texas operations center will provide 24/7 coverage, ensuring immediate launch capability. The Texas-based control team includes a drone pilot, tactical experts who guide movement inside the school and decide on engagement, and liaisons who share real-time intelligence with local officers. Campus Guardian Angel CEO Justin Marston told Newsweek the drones are equipped with pepper rounds and a glass punch, giving them the ability to enter classrooms quickly. "We feed live video to police, show exactly what's happening, where the suspect is, and even smash through windows with a glass punch to create distractions. This tactic, like during the SAS's famous hostage rescue [at the Iranian Embassy in London], can give officers a huge advantage," Marston said. He added that the technology changes the dynamic for responding officers: "Currently, an officer's job is to run toward gunfire, alone, with no support or intel—basically a standoff. With our drones, they're not alone; they know what the suspect looks like, what they're doing, and we take point around every corner. We usually find the shooter before they do and keep them occupied. Every officer who's seen this live has said they want it." The drones have already been showcased at Leon County Schools District Security Center in Tallahassee and AcadeMir Preparatory High School in Miami-Dade County. Officials observed how the system provided immediate situational awareness before officers entered a building.