'Senior Assassin Game' Prompts Warning From Batavia Police

BATAVIA, IL — A long-running tradition for seniors about to graduate high school, the "Senior Assassin game" is prompting warnings from the Batavia Police Department.

In the game, participants try to sneak up on "targets" in attempt to "assassinate or eliminate" them by shooting them with a water gun or Nerf gun. Players usually wear dark clothes and ski masks and are often found sneaking around homes and public areas while "armed."

"This activity, although not illegal, can be very dangerous," police said in a news release Thursday evening.

Officials said the Batavia Police Department usually receives multiple calls from frightened community members who notice the teens and believe they're armed with a real gun.

"Police must treat these calls for service as if they are of a legitimate criminal nature and must be taken very seriously as they have no way of knowing if the call is legitimate or if a weapon encountered is real," officials said. "These contacts present a risk to the officers, the person(s) they are interacting with and the general community."

In some instances, people think the weapon is real and "respond accordingly," Batavia police said. In one instance in 2024, a student targeted another with a water gun inside a Gurnee restaurant, and a concealed carry holder mistook the situation for a genuine threat, Patch.

Batavia police encouraged parents to have conversations with their children about Senior Assassin.

"If your student decides to participate in the game, we ask that parents have a conversation with them explaining that if they end up in an encounter with police, it is imperative that they follow orders from the officer(s) exactly and immediately, so their actions are not misconstrued as uncooperative or a threat," officials said. "They should not run from the police."

Police said anyone with questions should reach out to the BPD at 630-454-2500.