Kadena High School at Kadena Air Base, Okinawa, Japan, notified parents of a viral online game involving water pistols making the rounds at U.S. high schools. (Brian McElhiney/Stars and Stripes)
The Defense Department high school at Kadena Air Base on Okinawa, Japan, is warning parents about a viral social media game in which seniors target each other with water guns.
Kadena High School principal James Bleecker emailed parents on Friday with the subject line: “Senior Assassin Social Media Trend.”
The letter reminds parents that weapons of any kind, including toys or replicas, are not permitted on campus.
Students may be planning to participate in a trending social media game called “Senior Assassin,” according to Bleecker’s emailed letter. In the game, students “track and eliminate each other with squirt guns while trying to avoid being targeted themselves.”
Students have been using a phone application to play the game, according to the letter.
“We ask you to take a moment to speak with your student about the potential risks associated with participation in this activity, and ensure they fully understand that participation is not permitted at school,” the letter states.
The letter was sent “after school leadership became aware of students’ intent to participate,” Ferguson said via email Monday. DODEA shared a template letter with school leaders “across the agency for use as needed to inform parents,” she added.
“Schools have notified families with a letter at locations where administrators are aware students have been discussing participation,” she said in a follow-up email. She did not specify which schools sent letters.
School administrators determine possible disciplinary actions for bringing weapons to school “in accordance with Administrative Instruction 1347.01: Student Disciplinary Rules and Procedures,” she said.
Under that instruction, bringing a weapon to a DODEA school — even a replica or look-alike gun — could lead to immediate exclusion, suspension or a one calendar-year expulsion.
“Parents are encouraged to ensure their student understands this activity is not permitted at school, as well as understand the tracking capabilities of the app some students have downloaded in order to participate,” Ferguson wrote. The specific app used by students at Kadena or other schools may vary, she added.
“Senior Assassin” is a bracket-style elimination game in which high school seniors aim to eliminate each other using water guns, often with a cash prize attached.
It grew in popularity in the 2010s with appearances in TV shows such as “Gossip Girl” and “iCarly.” Players can use phone apps such as Senior Assassin, Splashin and Catcher Games to play.
In recent years, students have faced legal and other consequences after playing the game.
Adrian Williams, a high school senior in Indiana, is facing a felony charge of intimidation after police found him with a water gun in his car in a gym parking lot following customer complaints, the Chicago Tribune reported on April 10.
An unidentified teenager was charged with two counts of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon while using an Orbeez/gel projectile gun in Massachusetts, according to a CBS Boston report on April 18.
On June 2, Isaac Leal, 17, died of injuries after he fell off a Jeep Wrangler while playing the game in Arlington, Texas, ABC affiliate in Dallas WFAA-TV reported three days later.
