Suburban police issue new warning about students playing ‘senior assassins’ in residential neighborhoods

Police in suburban Chicago are once again warning of a popular game played by high school students in the springtime known as “Senior Assassins,” with the latest message coming from Villa Park.

“The Village has been made aware of the annual ‘Senior Assassin’ game played by some high school seniors,” a Facebook post from the Village of Villa Park said. “Please be aware that you may see groups of teens running in neighborhoods as part of this activity. There is no known threat to the public at this time; however, residents are encouraged to call 911 if they observe suspicious behavior or any criminal activity.”

The game, often played by high school students ahead of graduation, involves students arranging times to gather and chase each other with water or NERF-style guns.

“Because the game involves running, hiding, and chasing, it can draw large groups of students into neighborhoods and onto residential properties,” the post said. “In some communities, participants have used toy guns that closely resemble real firearms, which can cause confusion and create potentially dangerous situations. While the game itself is not illegal, certain actions associated with it could result in criminal charges or violations of local ordinances.”

The village encouraged parents to speak with their kids about about making “safe and responsible choices.”

In April 2025, other suburban villages and police departments issued similar messages about the game, warning that squirt or NERF guns could easily be mistaken for real firearms, leading to frightening and dangerous consequences.

“While the game is intended to be played for fun, it can have adverse and unsafe consequences for students and the community,” the Village of Glencoe posted last year. “posted to Instagram said. “We ask that all participants recognize how their actions may be perceived by members of the community and law enforcement. The unintended result of players running throughout the Village with toy guns that often resemble a real firearm, can have severe consequences.”

Several suburbs warned of the game in April of 2024, with some participants wearing ski masks in an effort to “catch their opponent off-guard.”

In one incident related to the game, students targeted another with a water gun inside a busy Gurnee restaurant.

“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,” Gurnee police said at the time. “The gravity of the situation cannot be emphasized enough; it had the potential to lead to serious consequences.”