Artificial Intelligence Technology Solutions, Inc., along with its subsidiary Robotic Assistance Devices, Inc., released an analysis suggesting that its AI-powered firearm detection system could have identified and reported the heavily armed suspect in Monday’s Midtown Manhattan shooting before he entered the building.
A widely circulated still image from surveillance footage of the suspect, processed through RAD’s firearm detection analytics, clearly shows how the Company’s AI detects the visible rifle as the suspect approached the entrance.
Standard surveillance cameras
RAD obtained the same footage and processed it through its proprietary firearm detection analytics
The incident occurred on Monday, July 28, when a heavily armed individual approached 345 Park Avenue in Manhattan, carrying what authorities later confirmed was an M4-style rifle.
The suspect entered the lobby, opened fire, and proceeded to the 33rd floor, where he ultimately took his own life. Four people were killed, including off-duty NYPD Officer Didarul Islam, who was working building security.
Several others were wounded in the attack. Standard surveillance cameras recorded the suspect’s approach but failed to identify or escalate the presence of the visible weapon. Following the incident, RAD obtained the same footage and processed it through its proprietary firearm detection analytics.
Real-time firearm detection
The AI system immediately flagged the presence of a long gun with a high-confidence alert
The AI system immediately flagged the presence of a long gun with a high-confidence alert before the suspect reached the building’s entrance. The analytic’s response demonstrates how real-time firearm detection could have prompted a faster, potentially life-saving response.
Had RAD’s firearm detection technology been deployed at the building’s entrance, the outcome may have been very different. Upon detecting the weapon, the system could have instantly triggered a series of autonomous deterrence actions, including flashing lights, loud audible alerts, and live audio intervention.
These measures are specifically designed to distract and disrupt the momentum of an armed individual. Simultaneously, automated alerts could have been sent to on-site security, building management, and law enforcement, initiating lockdown procedures and providing critical seconds for response teams to mobilise.
Firearm detection analytics
“We cannot continue relying on passive cameras that simply record such tragedies,” said Steve Reinharz, CEO/CTO and founder of AITX and RAD.
“The technology exists today to detect visible firearms in real time and trigger immediate action. AITX is not going to stand idly by, waiting for others to act. An announcement regarding the availability of our firearm detection analytics is expected soon.”
“We implore government leaders, property managers, and security providers to recognise what’s possible and move swiftly toward proactive, intelligent systems that can help prevent the next horrific event. Every second matters, and we must do better.”
Most critical factor
Troy McCanna, RAD’s Chief Security Officer and a former FBI Special Agent, has spent decades in law enforcement, including serving as a first responder to the Oxford High School shooting on November 30, 2021.
“In every mass shooting I’ve studied or responded to, time is the most critical factor,” McCanna said.
“Had this kind of technology been active at the scene in New York, we could be talking about a very different result. We’re no longer limited by human monitoring or delayed responses. AI gives us the chance to act in real time, and in situations like this, even a few seconds can mean the difference between life and death.”
Technical briefings
RAD is calling on media outlets, public safety officials, and security stakeholders to examine the footage for themselves and evaluate what this technology can offer.
The Company is prepared to provide demonstrations and technical briefings to any newsroom or agency seeking to understand how firearm detection AI works and how it can be implemented immediately in public, commercial, or private environments.
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