Police warn of ‘Senior Assassins’ game after Newman gun scare, Waterford concerns
A report of a person pointing a firearm in Newman this week turned out to involve teens playing with water guns. Police say the incident highlights growing safety concerns tied to a high school game, Senior Assassins, popular across Stanislaus County and nationwide.
Newman police responded around 10:15 p.m. March 17 to the 900 block of Haycastle Court after a caller reported a person holding a pistol during a verbal altercation. While officers were en route, dispatchers were told the individual was pointing the gun at another person.
Officers located four people, all 18-year-old high school seniors, and ordered them to the ground. The teens told officers they were using water guns, which was confirmed. No injuries were reported, and no crimes were committed. The teens were released after being lectured, the Newman Police Department said in a social media post.
Authorities said the group was participating in Senior Assassins, a game commonly played by graduating seniors in which participants attempt to “eliminate” one another using water guns.
Law enforcement agencies across the region say the game can create dangerous situations. And across the nation, law enforcement has reported consquences ranging from vehicle collisions to a Florida student being shot in the arm by an off-duty officer.
In a separate advisory posted this week, Waterford Police Services said it has received reports of the game — referred to as the “assassination game” — being played by high school students in that city and surrounding areas.
The agency warned that the activity can involve participants pursuing each other on foot or in vehicles, sometimes lingering outside homes or businesses, which has caused alarm among residents.
“Such activities can lead to serious consequences, including unnecessary panic and potential law enforcement intervention,” Waterford police said.
Officials also raised concerns about reckless driving and other unsafe behavior that could put both participants and the public at risk.
Newman police echoed those concerns, noting that members of the public may not realize the weapons involved are not real, leading to emergency responses.
Authorities urge parents to speak with their children about the risks associated with the game and to emphasize safe decision-making.
