ECASD Warning Public About Annual Tradition Game Called “Assassins.”

In what may be an annual tradition, senior students at Lincoln High School play the game where the goal is to “eliminate” each other using water guns or similar toy items in a tradition called “Assassins.”

The district would like to advise that this activity is not a school sponsored, school endorsed, or school created activity.

“It is an activity that is initiated by the students, usually the senior class, and occurs in schools across the country,” says superintendent Amy Anderson.

The Ellwood City Area School District Police Department is warning the public about the game.

During the game, students tend to run through neighborhoods, hide near homes and vehicles or carry something that could look like a real weapon.

The objective of the game is for participating students to “assassinate” or eliminate their target, a fellow participating student, by squirting them with a water gun within a given time period. While rules often vary by school, most games are played bracket-style, with the winner of the game receiving a jackpot prize of all eliminated players’ entry fees.

“We wanted the community to be aware of the activity. We also wanted participants and families of participants to be aware that when police get a report of someone with what appears to be a weapon, it is treated as a serious situation. What feels like a game to some can be alarming to others. We wanted to encourage parents to have a conversation with their children who may be participating about making smart choices and being aware of how their actions might be perceived,” says Anderson.

The district’s police department is also encouraging families to have conversations with their children about making smart choices and for the public to be aware of the game.