An end of the school year tradition to count down the days until graduation, Senior Splashin’ or better known as Senior Assassin is currently in action! 

The game is entirely student-ran, where two seniors pair up to eliminate or ‘assassinate’ their weekly targets with water guns to move onto the next round. This allows seniors to collect information about their targets like where they live and their whereabouts, all while trying not to get themselves assassinated first. The winning team is awarded with a prize, such as cash. The game is known to be very intense as it consumes the participant’s lives until the game is over. There are some founding rules of the game, but some schools may add or get rid of select rules. 

Rules: 

1. When the round ends, if you haven’t eliminated your target, you get eliminated. 
2. Each elimination must be photographed or recorded. 
3. A water gun must be used for elimination. 
4. The game is off limits at school, work, while driving, or at any sporting event.

Recently, this nerve racking game has been causing more and more issues around communities as these conflicts are raising school administrators, police, parents, and the bystander’s concerns for safety.

More recently, some schools have begun to ban the game on school grounds as the game has been causing more problems outside of school. More importantly, since schools ban all weapons-real and fake-from school grounds, water guns have been forced to be applied to that rule.

Now, in most areas schools are now considered immunity for players. 

While this is beneficial for students’ instruction and focus in school, it is causing a greater problem around the community. Students are now forced to take the game to their target’s homes and workplaces.

With the majority of most communities being completely unaware of the game, this game is causing a lot of safety issues. Bystanders do not understand that this is a game and will automatically fear for their safety as these seniors pose as a threat. Seniors are seen lurking around homes in cars, bushes, etc. with what appears to be a gun. It can be alarming to many bystanders.

Safety is a heavily debated topic for senior assassins. The game has been shown to be a very dangerous game in some areas and school districts. Many have formed the idea; if all forms of weapons are posed as a threat to safety in schools, shouldn’t that apply to the community as well? 

Recently, an 18-year-old attending Bishop Kenny High School, in Jacksonville, Florida, was shot by an officer on February 12, 2025. 

A neighbor had witnessed two individuals who were acting extremely suspicious. 

“They’re all in black, and that’s what really spooked me. Then they walked up to that house, and they didn’t, like, knock on the door or anything like that. They were just kind of stalking around the perimeter,” explained a resident of Union County, Florida, Stephen Stroud. 

Lieutenant James Maye also reported that he had “responded to at least 12 calls within the last week regarding the prank.”  

It is common for these seniors to oftentimes wear dark clothing, with hoods up or masks to attempt to not be seen while attempting to eliminate their target. This style of clothing is oftentimes stereotyped for bystanders to automatically think: no good. On top of that, most people find men wearing all black as more of a threat than if a woman wearing all black. 

A study was completed by a respectable group of four researchers who all have a degree in psychology, to understand the impression black clothing has on individuals in a specific context. 

It was discovered in a study by ResearchGate that, “Individuals wearing black clothing are perceived as more aggressive in comparison with individuals wearing lighter colors even in other than in aggressive situational contexts.”

Recently the game has been causing more controversy at Brunswick High School as the game had been put on “pause” for legality issues. The principal, Eric Schwarzenegger, provided a few statements about the game, but first he preferences how the game is not approved by the school and all students are responsible for actions as they must follow the FCPS Student Code of Conduct.

“I think it’s important for students to realize that while the school does not get involved in matters of student conduct outside of school, we can and may do so, should student actions impact a student(s) in school, or cause a substantive disruption to the operation or instruction occurring in school.”

He went on to explain how he strongly opposes the game, as he strongly values everyone’s safety. 

“I fear that it is only a matter of time before someone participating in this competition is seriously injured.”

Before the game is even running, teams have to pay a fee to be eligible to play. Typically this money is collected and given to the winning team. Depending on the entry fee and the amount of teams playing, the cash prize can be a huge sum of money. It could be a couple hundred dollars and sometimes it has reached the thousands. Schwarzenegger, brought up how he is aware of the cash involved and questions the purpose of the game in the sense of legality. 

Since at any moment this game can go wrong, it is important for “those organizing the competition, (or their parents in the case of a minor) could be held civilly liable should someone be harmed or property destroyed,” Schwarzenegger explained. 

The status of where Senior Assassin will stand in the upcoming years is unknown, as it is at risk for being banned around schools. Many students look forward to this game as they’ve spent previous years watching others play, and have been waiting for their time to. 

Schwarzenegger stated how, “I can appreciate that in the final weeks of a senior year, seniors want to participate in activities together for fun and bonding.” 

However, students and families have reported feeling unsafe during the game. It is very common for family members other than the participant to get involved or sprayed with a water gun, as the opponent may mistake them for their target. 

“Based on what I have heard about Senior Assassin, I strongly oppose this competition. Safety is my primary concern, specifically when people trespass on private property, oftentimes with water guns, which could be mistaken for an actual firearm. I fear that it is only a matter of time before someone participating in this competition is seriously injured. I’ve also heard that sometimes there is a cash buy-in and the winner takes the prize. This brings into question the purpose of the competition and questions of legality. Furthermore, those organizing the competition, (or their parents in the case of a minor) could be held civilly liable should someone be harmed or property destroyed. My opinion is, don’t do it,” said Schwarzenegger.