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In Mt. Vernon, Missouri, a technical error sparked alarm when a false alert about a school shooting was mistakenly dispatched to the community.
The confusion stemmed from CrimeRadar, an application that employs artificial intelligence to monitor crime and public safety. The app malfunctioned, erroneously notifying residents of a shooting at Mt. Vernon Elementary School—a shooting that never occurred.
CrimeRadar explained that the mishap was due to their automated system misinterpreting emergency dispatch audio. Instead of the dispatch saying “show me,” the system inaccurately registered it as “shooting,” triggering the misleading alert.
In response, the school swiftly implemented lockdown procedures to ensure the safety of students. Sheriff Brad DeLay praised the Mt. Vernon School District and Superintendent Christina West for their prompt and effective response, acknowledging their “excellent job” during the incident.
The Lawrence County Sheriff’s Office reported that CrimeRadar issued an apology, stating: “On the morning of April 10th, an alert posted by the CrimeRadar app incorrectly reported a shooting at Mount Vernon Elementary. We deeply regret the distress this caused to families, teachers, students, law enforcement, and the broader community. We recognize the seriousness of this mistake and have taken measures to prevent future occurrences.”
Per CrimeRadar’s statement, the app has had its audio processing and “contextual recognition protocols” updated and strengthened the verification process for any incidents involving schools and firearms.
Sheriff DeLay says he gives “kudos” to the app for accepting responsibility for what happened, and for taking actions to prevent it from happening again anywhere else.