Police Urge Caution Amid 'Senior Assassin' Tradition At Local Schools

GURNEE, IL — Senior assassin season is underway as local authorities are reminding high school students and their parents that what seems like a harmless game can quickly escalate.

The game, which has become a popular tradition among high school students, involves using water or replica guns where participants are assigned targets to "eliminate" using water guns.

The issue comes when residents mistake the fake guns as real firearms, sometimes prompting 911 calls and police responses, according to a recent alert posted on the Gurnee Police Department Facebook page. Other risks include dangerous driving while chasing participants, trespassing on private property and potential criminal charges depending on the situation.

Police are urging parents to talk to students about how quickly things can go wrong, and for students to avoid actions such as approaching others with anything resembling a weapon, chasing people in vehicles or cutting through yards, according to the alert from police.

Community members are encouraged to call 911 if they see someone running through neighborhoods, chasing others or carrying what appears to be a weapon as authorities "would rather check and make sure everyone is safe than miss something that could be serious," according to police.

"At the end of the day, this isn’t about stopping the fun, it's about making sure everyone stays safe and gets home without incident," according to a post on the Gurnee Police Department Facebook page.