'Senior Assassins' Game Prompts Police Action In Harford County, Concerns Educators

HARFORD COUNTY, MD — Many seniors graduating from Harford County high schools participate in a game outside of school hours and off school property called "senior assassins," but school officials and police are warning these students to use caution when playing the game that's trending across the nation.

According to Harford County Public Schools, the students compose "hit lists," stalk other players and then share photos with each other of players who have been "taken out." Players use water guns for the game and will hide outside houses, at bus stops, in parking lots and other locations as they wait to spray water on classmates.

However, a resident in Harford County saw a student with what looked like a real gun and called the police this week. The student was playing the "senior assassins" game and using a water gun designed to look like a real gun, officials noted. Police responded accordingly to the emergency call.

"We want to ensure all high school parents and guardians are aware of the game and the potential repercussions of playing it in the community. The game should not be brought into the schools. If it is, we want to remind you that a weapon of any kind, operational or not, is a violation of school rules. Appropriate disciplinary action will be taken if students bring water guns, or any weapon, into HCPS. Please take a moment to review this message with your student as we work to keep all students safe as they travel to and from school as well as in their school," the school district stated Thursday night.

The Harford County Sheriff's Office noted that while the game serves as a rite of passage to mark the end of students' high school years and is intended to be harmless, "it could also lead to tragic consequences if proper precautions are not followed."

"To minimize potential dangers, many variations of the game have safety rules that require students to wear brightly colored 'floaties,' goggles or even swim rings. It's crucial to remember that what may seem harmless within the context of the game can be perceived differently by bystanders and law enforcement. Remember, if it looks like a gun and citizens report it as such, law enforcement will respond according," the sheriff's office stated Thursday night.

The sheriff's office noted that safety should come first to avoid any unintended and serious consequences.

"Our aim is for both students and parents to enjoy all the celebrations of this milestone moment in their high school journey while ensuring everyone's well-being in the last few weeks before reaching the graduation stage," the sheriff's office stated.

Several HCPS parents spoke out on the school district's Facebook page about the incident, reminding other parents to talk to their kids about the safety precautions, such as using bright orange water guns.

"I understand the need for maintaining order, but we must remember that kids will be kids. The current disciplinary approach is very excessive. This is minor in comparison to most of the issues schools are facing in challenging areas. We have no idea how lucky we are not to face real problems of violence and risk. Let’s find a balance approach that allows them to be kids while also having a little fun. I can’t be the only parent that feels this way," one mom posted.

However, an educator noted that "it's an absolutely dumb game to support."

"I can understand how this seems to be taking the fun out of something but for those reacting with laugh emojis writing that this as an overreaction and HCPS should 'let kids be kids' you are basing this on YOUR experience in high school. When we were seniors (for those of us in our late 40s and up like me) we didn’t live in a society of mass school shootings. If something worse were to occur due to this game (hit lists and stalking, just what we need), parents and community members would blame the school system and teachers that we 'did nothing.' Please consider the position we educators are in to protect your children in ways we NEVER had to be protected by our teachers in the '80s and '90s," she wrote.

"If your child is playing this game, encourage them to choose a better way to spend their time. Why not a game of 'list of random acts of kindness to graduates' that they surprise each other with instead. The water guns of today aren’t all the yellow plastic cheap ones of the past. In a society where one could overreact to what is THOUGHT to be a weapon it’s just smarter to avoid that possibility in the first place," the teacher continued.

Last spring, a Kingston, Mass., student found himself in a similar predicament when he stopped by multiple police officers while walking through a parking lot carrying a water gun designed to look like a Glock handgun. The student's school district and local police officer discouraged students from continuing to play the game.

"First, placing someone in fear of being assaulted by a possible firearm (even if it turns out to be fake) is a felony - we don't want that on a kid's permanent record. Second, countless tragedies have occurred where someone with a realistic looking (but fake) weapon presents it and a police officer or citizen shoots them in defense," Kingston Police said after the incident.