Police in Massachusetts warn after juvenile found shooting look-alike gun in public while playing game

A Massachusetts police department is warning people after they saw a juvenile on Monday shooting a gun that looked like a real gun while playing a game in public.

According to police, earlier this afternoon the Kingston Police Department received a 911 call from a person that was alarmed by someone walking through the parking lot of a local business with a gun in their hand. This parking lot is on Lake Street, near Silver Lake Regional High School and was near school dismissal time.

This prompted a high-priority multiple-cruiser response from KPD. Nearby School Resource Officers from SLRHS and SLRMS as well as patrol units responded.

Upon arrival, officers found that the individual with a firearm was actually a juvenile student from the high school with a realistic looking water gun. Apparently, the students were playing a game called “senior assassin” where they squirt each other with water guns to eliminate them from the game. Police say that the students decided to use a realistic looking weapon in a public location off of school property. Luckily, KPD officers were quickly able to ascertain that this is what was occurring and that it was NOT a real threat. The involved juveniles were counseled on the severity of the incident and sent on their way.

According to 12 News New Jersey, while playing “senior assassin” teenagers will typically wear masks, hide in bushes and ambush the other teams.

KPD wanted to remind the public that placing someone in fear of being assaulted by a possible firearm (even if it turns out to be fake) is a felony and that countless tragedies have occurred where someone with a realistic looking (but fake) weapon presents it, and a police officer or citizen shoots them in defense.

“We beg you, students and parents, please advise your loved ones against playing this game in a public environment and advise them against carrying realistic looking weapons. Let’s avoid a tragedy.”