Water Gun “Assassin” Game Sparks Early Morning Weapons Call in Guelph

What looks harmless at first glance is increasingly causing real-world consequences. Police say the line between play and public safety is getting dangerously blurred.

A game in which high school students attempt to ‘eliminate’ each other using water guns is believed to be behind a weapons call in the east end early Friday.

Just before 1:30 a.m. police were called to an address near Grange Road and Starwood Drive after a resident reported a number of vehicles parked in front of his house. The caller advised he saw someone holding a gun, though he did not know if it was real.

Officers attended but the involved vehicles and people had left. Officers spoke to a number of residents, including one who identified the subjects as teenagers who were carrying realistic-looking water guns.

It is believed they were playing Senior Assassin, a game popular with high school seniors at the end of the school year. The object of the game is to eliminate assigned targets by shooting them with water guns or other projectiles.

Police services – including Guelph Police – have issued warnings about the game as replica firearms look very similar to real ones, causing concern for members of the public and often prompting large police responses. 

Officers responding to such calls must treat them as if the firearms in question are real until proven otherwise, potentially causing safety concerns for the community including players of the game. Responding to such high-priority calls also takes officers away from other legitimate calls for service. 

The individuals involved in Friday’s incident have not been identified. (Occurrence number GU26026439)