On Monday morning, a loaded firearm was detected as a student entered Smithfield High School in Virginia, thanks to the school’s OPENGATE® weapons detection system.

As the student walked through the system, OPENGATE alerted staff to a potential threat. Upon investigation, a loaded firearm was found in the student’s backpack. The student was immediately detained by school personnel and local law enforcement.

The swift response and successful detection have drawn positive feedback from the school community. Jason F. Brinkley, Security and Emergency Management Supervisor for Isle of Wight County Public Schools, shared: “We have received so much praise and accolades from the use of the OPENGATE system.”

Matt Samels, Regional Sales Manager at CEIA USA, added: “Always a very proud moment when I see real-life examples of our solutions keeping a school safe!”

Out of an abundance of caution, both Smithfield High School and the adjacent middle school were temporarily placed on lockdown. Authorities later confirmed there was no ongoing threat, and both schools resumed normal operations.

This incident underscores the importance of proactive security in schools. OPENGATE is designed to detect weapons quickly and accurately without slowing down the flow of students.

We are proud that OPENGATE played a key role in preventing a potentially dangerous situation and commend the swift actions of school staff and law enforcement.