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Ontario police agencies are cautioning teens and the general public about a new water-gun game trend called 'senior assassin', where some teens are using water guns that may look like imitation firearms to sneak up on a target. Police encourage teens to use brightly-coloured water guns rather than imitation hand guns for the game.By Janis Ramsay Metroland
Various police agencies across the province are cautioning people about a new game becoming a trend in the teen crowd: "senior assassin."
But it's not as deadly as it sounds. It's actually an elevated version of a water gunfight, where high school seniors are given a name of a target. They drive around to seek out that unsuspecting friend, who will be sprayed with water from a water-gun.
The planning and technique can be recorded for TikTok — like in this video — or other social media videos. In fact, one high school's TikTok stream has complied various videos of targets being sprayed.
In some cases, the water has also been dyed red to resemble blood spatter.
And while Ontario Provincial Police encourage the physical fun aspect of the game, they caution against making it look more realistic.
In a recent OPP press release, officers said two reports of youths playing the game in the Collingwood area caused residents' concern.
On April 24, Collingwood and Blue Mountains OPP received a complaint that several teens in a white vehicle were at an address on Kirby Avenue in Collingwood and were trying to get to another teen, who had taken refuge in a residence.
A caller told officers one of the individuals was carrying a handgun.
Multiple police units converged on the area and located the vehicle and suspects, taking them into custody before determining that the firearm was actually a water gun and the teens were playing "senior assassin."
Then on April 28, officers were called to Bush Street in Collingwood, as teens were sitting in a parked vehicle and acting suspiciously in front of a home.
The caller again reported seeing firearms inside the vehicle.
Multiple officers arrived, and the teens were detained during an investigation, which concluded they were also playing "senior assassin."
And on May 1, Halton police issued a social media post discouraging youth from taking part in the game, as it was causing concern from onlookers.
“These incidents can cause public distress and garner an elevated police response, especially when the fake guns resemble real firearms,“ the post said.
“The OPP is not discouraging young people from playing the game,“ OPP Central Region Headquarters spokesperson Brooklyn Harker said. “We want to focus on encouraging them to play safely, and how their actions can be perceived by members of the public who are not aware of this game.“
Harker didn't have specific stats as to how many calls OPP have received across the province reporting this game, but said it's a new trend.
“It was a trend that started in the U.S. and has kind of expanded,“ she said. “Due to two incidents that happened in the same week in Collingwood, we want to bring awareness to the public and the players of the game.“
Police were called because the water guns looked like realistic guns, Harker said.
"(Callers) are mistaking it for a genuine threat.“
If you participate in the game, Harker suggests using brightly coloured water guns, instead of imitation handguns.
And players should not linger around people's homes or trespass on property.
“It's a game that is engaging kids in the community to play outside and we don't want to discourage that, but don't cover your face in a ski mask — make sure you're not looking like a threat in a public area.“
Also avoid being around any restaurants or stores, Harker noted.
来源链接：
https://www.toronto.com/news/what-is-the-senior-assassin-game-and-why-are-ontario-police-forces-warning-people-about/article_ee426374-cc07-5946-88d4-99977406e87c.html
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