TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) – A Jacksonville teen was rushed to a hospital after being shot in the arm by a Florida law enforcement agent.
Investigators said it happened while high school students were playing the popular game.
Law enforcement officials warn Florida parents about the dangers of the “Senior Assassin” game.
The game sounds like what you might have played when you were a child: players film each other with a water gun. State leaders warn that the consequences of playing “Senior Assassin” can be fatal as they are not kidding, as they can play the game almost anywhere .
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It is a game played in the darkness, sometimes a cool campus, sometimes with masks. Using water guns often looks real, and some players spend a considerable amount of time catching targets.
“Parents, I encourage you to have a conversation with your children about the dangers associated with this game,” said Neptune Beach Police Chief Michael Key.
Senior Assassin, Killer, or Senior Tag – Regardless of the name, the game has been playing for generations.
“The reality is that I live on a different day than when the game began decades ago,” said Melissa Nelson, state attorney for Florida’s Fourth Judicial Circuit.
These differences became very clear last week when an 18-year-old Jacksonville High School football player was shot while playing the game. Nassau County Sheriff Bill Reaper said it started when the group found them hiding around the car.
“The homeowners were warned,” Reaper said. Darkness, you can’t tell the difference. ”
A missing FDLE agent was nearby and shot the teen. Luckily, the boy is expected to recover in full.
8 reached out to an agency in Tampa Bay if he saw the game’s recent revival.
“In 2024, we received a request for service from an interested citizen, but later it turned out to be a boy who is playing a ‘water war’ in the community,” says Pasco County Sheriff’s Office. He told the 8 side.
They are urging parents and guardians to discuss with their children about the potential dangers of playing the game.
Tampa Police said they were “aware of this online trend,” but “do not identify any particular related complaints.”
“The recent incidents in Nassau County are a sobering memory of the possibility that they could occur in one of our communities,” Key said.
FDLE agents do not face charges, but the case is still under investigation.
