Irvine Police Warn Teens Against Using Realistic Toy Guns for 'Senior Assassin' Game

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The Irvine Police Department is warning high school students against using toy guns that resemble real firearms, such as Glock pistols, while playing the 'Senior Assassin' tag game. Authorities say these realistic-looking water guns and gel blasters could trigger an emergency response or vigilante confrontation, posing a serious danger to students and the public.

Why it matters

The 'Senior Assassin' game has led to 911 calls and police responses across the country in the past, as students are often seen hiding or chasing one another with water guns that look like real weapons. This can create a volatile situation and put innocent bystanders at risk.

The details

According to the Irvine Police Department, some of the toy guns used in the 'Senior Assassin' game closely resemble real firearms, such as Glock pistols. If a teen is spotted with an item that appears to be a gun, it could be mistaken for a real weapon and trigger an emergency response by authorities. Additionally, vigilantes with real firearms may try to confront high school students who are using realistic replicas.

• The 'Senior Assassin' game is commonly played near high schools as an unofficial year-end tradition for graduating seniors.

What they’re saying

What’s next

Irvine police are urging parents to talk to their teenagers about the risks of using realistic toy guns and to avoid playing the 'Senior Assassin' game in public areas around schools.