Report Of Gun Turns Out To Be Just A Game, Police In Bergen County Say

HACKENSACK, NJ — Police in Hackensack responded Friday to a report of a gun, but it turned out to be a watergun that was being used in a game, they said.

Police posted Friday night that they, like other police departments, have been dealing with the "Senior Assassin" game, popular in the months before high school graduation.

They said they discourage participation in the game, whichhas turned dangerous in some places.

"This morning, officers responded to a report of a person with a gun," police wrote on Friday. "It was later determined to be a juvenile participating in the game with a toy water gun. Incidents like this can lead to serious police responses and pose risks to everyone involved. We strongly discourage participation."

But, they said, if you choose to play:

• Use bright, clearly identifiable toy water guns
• Do not trespass on private property
• Avoid reckless behavior, including unsafe driving or running into traffic
• Be aware your actions may prompt emergency calls
• Parents are encouraged to speak with their children.

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The senior game involves trying to hit an assigned target, and then that person's target, until everyone is out except the last person standing.

The trend, also known as "The Assassination Game" (TAG) or "Killer," began in the early 1980s. Kids sometimes used a rolled-up sock or paint gun to "assassinate" classmates n high school halls or college campuses, in the days before the rise of school shootings.

Two movies in the mid-1980s, Gotcha and TAG: The Assassination Game, reflected the pastime's popularity.

Some parents and police in North Jersey have said that the game is no longer appropriate, and it has also led to accidental shootings.

CBS News reported last spring that a student in Arlington, Texas is on life support after jumping onto a moving Jeep while playing. He fell and hit his head, according to the report.

In Florida in February 2025, police shot a young player who was mistaken for a home invader, local media reported.

And in Utah , a teen was arrested on a charge of threat of terrorism after he ran through a hospital with a Nerf gun while playing the game, reported ABC. Reports said he chased his friend into the building.

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