The 'Assassin Game' Has Ended: Police

CHELMSFORD, MA -Students at Chelmsford High School agreed to stop playing a game that terrorized the community and even led to a car accident, police said.

The "Assassin Game" is played by graduating seniors every year, police officials said.

In the potentially dangerous game, players work in teams and eliminate their targets by surprising them and squirting them with water guns, Chelmsford High School principal Steve Murray wrote in a letter to parents.

Students agreed to stop playing the game after Chelmsford Police School Resource Officer Rebecca Tyros respectfully asked that the seniors organizing the game end it as soon as possible.

On Wednesday, a car carrying several Chelmsford High School students was chasing down another student car Tuesday morning in hopes of an "assassination," police said.

The car that was being chased made a right turn and the pursuing vehicle crashed into it on School Street, police said.

The student that was driving the pursuing vehicle was cited for driving to endanger and marked lane violation, police said. He will have to appear in court and could lose his license, according to police.

"The Chelmsford Police Department and Chelmsford Public Schools do not sanction or condone the Chelmsford High School tradition of the Assassins game," Police Chief James Spinney said in a statement. "Fortunately, no one has been injured as a result of this game, but the increasingly aggressive behavior of participants can create very dangerous situations for the players and those around them. We want our students to have fun and enjoy their senior year, but we need them to do so in a way that is safe and responsible for everyone."

The car crash was not the only assassin-related incident that took place this week: on Monday a parent complained to school officials that two students broke into her car and house to surprise their next target, Principal Murray wrote.

"For many reasons, this greatly upset this parent. I do worry that the wrong person could be startled [or] surprised at the wrong time and place and this can lead to unanticipated problems," Principal Murray wrote.

The Chelmsford police have received numerous calls from residents over the years complaining that young people were breaking into cars or that suspicious vehicles were sitting on their street, Chelmsford Police Chief James Spinney told Patch.

The strange behavior is nothing more than students trying to surprise their targets but it has made many people uncomfortable, Spinney said.

"It's gotten out of hand," Spinney told Patch.

Students have also disrupted class because of the game and taken personal items for "ransom," Principal Murray reported.

"[The Assasin Game is] supposed to be good-natured and light-hearted fun. However, in several communities - including Chelmsford, the game can take a life of its own. The game is NOT sponsored by the school or any town group and it is NOT supposed to be played on school grounds," Principal Murray wrote.

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