Police Warn of 'Senior Assassin' Game Risks in Chicago Suburbs

Departments advise parents to discuss safety with students as game involves chasing, hiding, and toy guns

Published on Mar. 2, 2026

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Police departments in suburban Chicago have issued warnings about the popular 'Senior Assassin' game played by high school students, noting concerns over potential dangerous situations involving running, hiding, and the use of toy guns that resemble real firearms. The game, often played ahead of graduation, has led to incidents where adults have mistaken the toy weapons for real threats, raising the risk of escalation.

Why it matters

The 'Senior Assassin' game highlights the need to balance high school traditions with public safety, as the game's elements of chasing, hiding, and toy weapons can create confusion and dangerous circumstances, especially in residential neighborhoods. Police are working to educate parents and students on the risks to avoid potential criminal charges or serious consequences.

The details

The game involves high school seniors chasing each other with water or NERF-style guns, with participants hiding and running from one another. Police in Palos Heights and Villa Park have both issued warnings about the game, noting that while it is not illegal, the actions associated with it could violate local ordinances or lead to criminal charges. In one past incident in Gurnee, a concealed carry holder at a restaurant mistook the toy gun used in the game for a real threat, highlighting the potential for the situation to escalate quickly.

  • In early March 2026, the Palos Heights Police Department issued a warning about the 'Senior Assassin' game.
  • Less than a week prior, the Villa Park Police Department had also warned about the game.
  • Similar warnings about the game were issued by other suburban police departments during the springtime in 2024 and 2025.

The players

Palos Heights Police Department

A south suburban police department that issued a warning about the 'Senior Assassin' game played by high school students.

Villa Park Police Department

A suburban police department that issued a warning about the 'Senior Assassin' game less than a week before the Palos Heights warning.

Gurnee Police Department

A police department that previously warned about an incident related to the 'Senior Assassin' game, where a concealed carry holder mistook a toy gun used in the game for a real threat.

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What they’re saying

“Because the game involves students hiding and running from each other with water guns, one may assume a potential dangerous situation or circumstance...”

— Palos Heights Police Department (Palos Heights Police Department)

“...Because the game involves running, hiding, and chasing, it can draw large groups of students into neighborhoods and onto residential properties. In some communities, participants have used toy guns that closely resemble real firearms, which can cause confusion and create potentially dangerous situations.”

— Villa Park Police Department (Villa Park Police Department)

“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.”

— Gurnee Police Department (Gurnee Police Department)

What’s next

Police in the affected suburbs are continuing to work with parents and students to educate them on the risks associated with the 'Senior Assassin' game and encourage responsible behavior ahead of high school graduations.

The takeaway

The 'Senior Assassin' game highlights the need for high school traditions to balance safety concerns, as the elements of chasing, hiding, and toy weapons can create dangerous situations and lead to potential criminal charges or serious consequences. Police are working to proactively address these risks through community outreach and education.