The Lake County Sheriff’s Office says they have responded to several 911 calls regarding the “Senior Assassin” game as they issued a warning calling the game “incredibly dangerous.”
The sheriff’s office said they have recently taken several 911 calls and responded to incidents involving Senior Assassin, as have other area police departments.
The game involves the formation of teams for a tournament-style competition. Participants eliminate opposing teams by “tagging” them with water guns or fake guns.
It is common for players to wear ski masks to catch their opponents off guard or sometimes wear camouflage.
The game has been occurring in public places and at homes.
“This is incredibly dangerous and could result in tragic consequences. Please talk to your kids about the dangers of this prank, we would hate to be responding to a tragedy where someone is shot,” the sheriff’s office said in a statement to the community.
Last Wednesday, the Gurnee Police Department issued a community alert about the “Senior Assassin” game.
A group of high school students from a neighboring community entered a Gurnee restaurant last Tuesday wearing ski masks and displaying water guns resembling firearms, police said.
They were targeting other students who were dining in the restaurant and attempting to spray them with water, police said.
An adult, who is a concealed carry holder and was in the restaurant, mistook the situation for a genuine threat.
“The situation could have escalated quickly. The gravity of the situation cannot be emphasized enough; it had the potential to lead to serious consequences,” police said in the alert.
The Gurnee Police Department emphasized that the depiction of firearms, whether real or imitation, in any public setting, is a “matter of concern and may instill fear among the public.”
The department said they urge community members to reconsider their participation in the activities and recognize the seriousness of their actions.
Incidents like these may warrant disorderly conduct charges as they often cause feelings of being alarmed and disturbed by others, police said.
“We appreciate the continued support of our community and encourage individuals to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities promptly. Remember, if you ‘See Something, Say Something,'” the department added.