Dublin Warns Against "Assassin" Game

DUBLIN, CA — Dublin authorities are again warning against participation in the game “Assassin,” in which teams of high school seniors are assigned “targets” to “assassinate” using toy Nerf-type guns that fire foam darts. Some students from Dublin and Valley High School have been participating in the game, according to the Dublin Unified School District.

“This activity is of significant concern because students have, in the past, engaged in risky behaviors for the sake of the game. Quite often, the thrill of the game can override a teen’s common sense,” DUSD wrote in a statement. “Assassin is not sanctioned, supported, or approved by the Dublin Unified School District (DUSD), Dublin High, or Valley High (located on the Dublin High campus).”

In the past, students have done everything from:

• Painting or disguising weapons to make them more realistic
• Reaching for concealed weapons in public places
• Waiting out on private property late at night or early in the morning, sometimes dressed in black or camouflage clothing
• Reckless driving
• Stalking targets
• Jumping out of moving vehicles
• Conducting fake “drive-by” shootings.

Actions like these can appear menacing to outsiders unfamiliar with the game, who often call police, and have the potential to react with force. If a police officer or another person is injured during the response to an incident, the parents of the minor will be held liable, DUSD said. Students could also face legal and criminal consequences, and will face disciplinary action if any sort of weapon is brought on campus.