Authorities in Irvine urged parents to talk to their teenagers Thursday as a common tag game among high school students is being played with toy guns that resemble real weapons.
The game called “Senior Assassin” is commonly played near high schools as an unofficial year-end tradition for graduating seniors.
But the problem is that, according to the Irvine Police Department, some of the water guns and gel blasters appear too realistic, with some resembling Glock pistols.
https://www.facebook.com/IrvinePD/posts/pfbid02T8aBzrJrYyLubC4wstEzbAzJuRLuuexGDNv5dNZQjftfc8NVkW8mfxYR2WM8Pbyol
Police said, 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. And vigilantes with real firearms may try to confront high school students with replicas.
“A split-second misunderstanding can have real consequences,” the Irvine Police Department said on social media. “These encounters can escalate quickly and pose a danger to students and the public.”
Irvine police also warned against playing the game with realistic toy guns in public areas, including parking lots and neighborhoods around schools.
The Senior Assassin game has led to 911 calls and police response in the past across the country as students are often seen hiding or chasing one another with a water gun that looks like a real weapon.