DENVER (KDVR) — The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office on Sunday issued a “public safety announcement” warning the community of the risks associated with a high school tradition after two “alarming” calls of students playing “Senior Assassin.”
The game, in which high school students—typically seniors—hunt for at “shoot” each other with sometimes realistic-looking water or toy guns, has been the subject of many law enforcement warnings around the country and has even led to students being shot by police or injured while playing.
The sheriff’s office in a Facebook post and video detailed the two incidents that happened earlier this month related to the game.
“While intended as a harmless pastime, this game has raised significant safety concerns due to its potential to be mistaken for real criminal activity…putting participants, bystanders and law enforcement at risk,” the sheriff’s office said.
In one incident, residents in Highlands Ranch saw masked kids at a grocery store and thought they were about to start a robbery.
In the second, a caller saw someone pointing a gun out of a vehicle’s sunroof at a Highlands Ranch restaurant.
In that incident, deputies conducted a high-risk stop in a parking lot near West Highlands Ranch Parkway and Town Center Drive. The deputies found water guns that looks like real handguns in the vehicle.
The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office on Sunday issued a “public safety announcement” warning the community of the risks associated with a high school tradition after two “alarming” calls of students playing “Senior Assassin.” 
The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office on Sunday issued a “public safety announcement” warning the community of the risks associated with a high school tradition after two “alarming” calls of students playing “Senior Assassin.”
The students in that incident were released to their parents after a “serious discussion” about the dangers of Senior Assassin.
“These toy guns look real. If a resident or officer believes they are facing an armed threat, the outcome could be tragic,” the sheriff’s office said. “A well-intentioned game could lead to someone being seriously injured or killed—either by a resident acting in self-defense or by law enforcement forced to make a split-second decision.”
The sheriff’s office had several pleas for students, parents and the community as a whole:
- Parents: please talk with your students encourage safer ways to celebrate their senior year.
- Students: please think about the risks. Your safety and the safety of others are not worth the risk.
- Residents: If you see suspicious activity please call 911. Do not assume it’s just a game.
“As a reminder we are not here to stop kids from having fun,” the sheriff’s office said. “We are here to ensure everyone makes it home safe.”
Anthony Sutton is a business strategist and writer with a passion for management, leadership, and entrepreneurship. With years of experience in the corporate world, he shares insights on business growth, strategy, and innovation through management-opleiding.org.
