UMVA has learned that a disturbing trend is sweeping the nation's schools, leaving law enforcement and administrators scrambling to warn students of the potentially deadly consequences.
The game, known as "Senior Assassin," involves groups of students stalking and attempting to eliminate one another with water guns on school campuses and private property. The objective is simple: be the last player dry, avoiding the soaking of water guns wielded by opponents.
But authorities say this game is no harmless prank. It wastes valuable resources and poses a serious risk of tragic misunderstandings. Every year, police departments receive frantic 911 calls from concerned citizens reporting suspicious behavior, only to discover it's related to this game.
The Lower Makefield Police Department recently took to social media to caution the public, warning that toy guns and replica weapons can easily be mistaken for real firearms, sparking fear, panic, and potentially disastrous misinterpretations.
A chilling incident in Jacksonville, Florida last year drove home the risks. An 18-year-old high school student was shot by an off-duty law enforcement agent who mistook them and friends for intruders on his property. The student survived, but authorities sounded the alarm, urging parents to intervene and prevent their children from playing the game.
Florida officials heeded the warning, calling on parents to stop their children from participating in the game. Meanwhile, police departments across the country are echoing similar warnings. The Fremont Police Department in California took to Instagram to alert the public, citing concerns over toy guns that look realistic and the behavior associated with the game, which can create a hazardous situation and divert emergency resources.
In a recent instance, an Arizona middle school teacher mistook a water gun for a real firearm and called 911, triggering a police investigation. Fortunately, officers quickly determined the toy gun was harmless, but the incident highlighted the very real risks and concerns surrounding this game.
Law enforcement agencies are taking these incidents seriously, appreciating community members for reporting suspicious activity. As the school year draws to a close, authorities are urging students to find safer, more responsible ways to celebrate.
