Local school officials assess bulletproof window demonstration

ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. – School leaders watched as a dramatic shooting demonstration, meant to protect students, went down inside the Sharpshooter indoor range.

The company Safe Haven Defense tested its window security laminate with a 9mm, and Nate McVicker showed how the industry-standard window film would not even stop a rock.

McVicker also showed how his Safe Haven laminate held up to a 40 caliber.

The captured slug was visible. The back of the glass felt smooth, even after taking six slugs. The onlookers felt it themselves and watched in awe.

“I wasn’t a believer until I saw it,” Ladue School’s Director of Safety and Security, Tim Reboulet, said. “I think this is something that can keep kids safe nationwide.”

Terrell Baker, with the Missouri School Board Association’s Center for Education and Safety, was also at the demonstration.

“It’s an asset for all schools to use in their wheelhouse for school safety,” he said.

The newly constructed Lindbergh High School recently installed bullet-resistant glass. It’s been seen firsthand here in St. Louis how a killer could break through glass to enter. CVPA’s glass door was kicked in, leading to the 2022 tragedy.

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Retired Lt. Brian Murphy also knows what a difference it could make. He was shot 15 times while responding to the Wisconsin Sikh Temple massacre in 2012.

Murphy explained, “There’s a delay factor minimally—you’re going to get 5–8 minutes and when you look at it, in my instance, I was at our shooting at 1 minute and 59 seconds. Had they had that product on the door, I would’ve easily been there and ended it before anyone else had to die.”

The laminate tested remained impenetrable with a .45 caliber. Will it stop anything? No, but keep in mind that a 2023 JAMA pediatric study found school shooters used a handgun 85% of the time.

McVicker had another twist up his sleeve when he shot at the other side of the coated glass.

“Our laminate with Safe Haven Defense is not penetrable from the outside, but you can shoot from the inside out,” he said. “There’s your target. All rounds penetrable from the inside – out.”

FOX Files will follow up with the schools that decide to use the product to see how they put it into practice.

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