Multiple Chicago-area suburbs issue warnings about nationwide ‘Senior Assassins' game

Multiple Chicago-area suburbs have issued warnings about a game being played at schools nationwide known to many as "Senior Assassins."

Police in several suburbs, including Gurnee, Bartlett and Arlington Heights, put out community alerts surrounding the game, some noting "concerning incidents" associated with it.

In Gurnee, a group of high school students from another suburb entered a restaurant wearing ski masks and holding water guns that police said resembled firearms.

"They were targeting other students who were dining in the restaurant and attempting to spray them with water," police said in an alert. "An adult, who was a concealed carry holder, in the restaurant mistook the situation for a genuine threat, and the situation could have escalated quickly. The gravity of the situation cannot be emphasized enough; it had the potential to lead to serious consequences."

According to police, the game involves forming teams for a "tournament-style competition" in which students eliminate competitors by "tagging" them with water guns. The rules of the game, however, vary by location.

In Arlington Heights, police said the "live action game" is an "annual springtime tradition for students," particularly seniors.

"Game rules specify the activity cannot take place during school hours or on school property. Players attempt to locate their opponents at various sites including home, local parks, and other gathering spaces within the community," police said. "Students will often hide in odd spots, chase targets through yards and appear suddenly in a vehicle or on foot."

In Bartlett, village officials warned the game begins on April 14. There, authorities said rules of the game prohibit trespassing "or any other illegal activities." There, authorities noted that officers in nearby towns, including St. Charles, have responded to 911 calls made by residents concerned about people wearing masks or hoodies lurking around homes or suspicious vehicles driving around neighborhoods.

"Some of these reports also involved participants driving on lawns or brandishing water guns that looked like realistic-looking handguns (as shown in the pictures), which has caused concern for the responding officers since they were unable to tell whether the participating students were committing actual crimes or simply playing a game," the alert said.

In each case, police said they do not condone the game and some expressed concerns with school officials.

"The concept is not against the law or a local ordinance. We ask everyone to play safely, use common sense and recognize how players’ actions may be perceived by members of the community," Arlington Heights police wrote in their alert. "The unintentional result of participants running throughout the community with a water gun, some often resembling a look-alike firearm, could have deadly consequences."

Gurnee warned that some cases, particularly those that take place in public spaces, could result in disorderly conduct charges, "as they often cause feelings of being alarmed and disturbed by others."

Bartlett officials encouraged parents to talk to their children about the game "to ensure they are aware of the potential issues that could arise from participating."