Dublin Police Warn Parents Of 'Assassin' Game

DUBLIN, CA — Dublin police and school officials are warning parents about an "assassin" game that they say can unnecessarily cause alarm, waste police resources and prompt participants to behave in dangerous ways to avoid becoming a target.

Teenagers and parents could be held liable for any injuries to a police officer or person that occur as a result of the game, according to a joint statement from Dublin Police Services and Dublin Unified School District. Students could face disciplinary action.

High school seniors — the so-called assassins — are assigned targets that they seek to nab using a foam dart gun. The game is concerning for several reasons and has been played for at least a decade, officials said.

For one, participants may alter the fake funs to look like real weapons. They may reach for the fake guns in public places, jump out of moving cars, conduct a fake drive-by shooting in a parking lot or public street, drive around hunting targets, hide behind bushes, trash cans, cars or fences to reach a target, visit a home late at night, or dress in all-black or camoflauge clothing, officials said. Targets may drive dangerously to avoid being hit.

Others may perceive these events to be real and violent, and call police, officials said. Officers respond to the scene, only to find that the incident was part of a game.

"Not only does this consume significant time and resources of

emergency personnel, it also jeopardizes the safety of our community when actual threats cannot be responded to in a timely manner," officials said. "Furthermore, in the eyes of a startled homeowner protecting his or her family or property, a violent response to a player is quite possible."

Students can be disciplined if any weapons, including fake guns, are brought to school, officials said. They could also face disciplinary action if school officials uncover any evidence that indicates the game was being played on-campus.

Officials ask parents to speak with their child about the consequences and encourage them to not participate.