DAUPHIN COUNTY, Pa. (WHP) — As high school graduation season approaches, so does a rise in teens participating in a popular game known as “senior assassin.”

The Swatara Township Police Department is asking parents to speak with their kids about the risks associated with the game, where students try to “eliminate” each other by spraying each other with water guns or squirt bottles.

“The game is played outside of school hours and away from school property but has been reported to be causing disruptions and posing risks to participants and bystanders alike,” police wrote Tuesday in a news release.

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The police department said there have been reports of students playing the game outside of local businesses and alarming the public.

There are online resources that advise students avoid private property and use brightly-colored water guns, police said, but not all students are following those rules.

Police said some students have used paintball guns, which can lead to injuries.

“We urge parents and guardians to speak with their children about the potential risks associated with participating in this game and to discourage them from taking part,” the Swatara Township Police Department wrote. “The safety of students and community members is our top priority, and we must work together to ensure a safe and respectful environment for everyone.”

Another Pennsylvania police department out of Bucks County, the Buckingham Township Police Department, said the game sometimes results in 911 calls reporting “armed subjects.”

“In case you are unfamiliar, Senior Assassin is a game that involves high school students ‘stalking’ and ‘shooting’ each other with water guns in an attempt to be the last senior standing,” Buckingham Township police wrote. “We have heard that some students are using Nerf guns or silly string. Think of this game as ‘hide and seek.’”

The Northern Lancaster County Regional Police Department also spoke out about the game back in 2023, warning that students sometimes use water pistole that could easily be confused for real firearms.

“This behavior, though intentionally innocent, could easily be perceived, reported, or confronted as suspicious behavior by unknowing persons and outcomes could have serious consequences,” the police department had said.

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While the Buckingham Township Police Department said it does not condone the game, it offered the following safety tips for students who might decide to play anyway:

• Do not use realistic-looking weapons; use clearly identifiable, brightly colored water guns.
• Do not wear masks or behave in ways that would make a reasonable person to believe you are a threat.
• Avoid trespassing on private property or playing in public spaces, especially at night.
• Immediately comply with any police officer’s instructions and stop playing if instructed to do so.