(Douglas County, CO) Last weekend (9/6/25), the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office responded to two alarming calls involving high school students playing the “Senior Assassin” game. While intended as a harmless pastime, this game has raised significant safety concerns due to its potential to be mistaken for real criminal activity…putting participants, bystanders and law enforcement at risk.
• In the first incident, masked kids were seen at a grocery store in Highlands Ranch, and residents thought a robbery was about to occur.
• In the second case, a caller reported someone pointing a gun out of a vehicle’s sunroof at fast food restaurant in Highlands Ranch. Deputies located the car and conducted a high-risk stop in a parking lot near W. Highlands Ranch Parkway and Town Center Drive. Inside, deputies found two water guns that looked like real handguns. Parents were called, and the teens were released to them after a serious discussion about the dangers of this game that is being played across the country.
Here’s why this is dangerous:
• These toy guns look real. If a resident or law enforcement officer believes they are facing an armed threat, the outcome could be tragic.
• A well-intentioned game could lead to someone being seriously injured or killed—either by a citizen acting in self-defense or by law enforcement forced to make a split-second decision.
We understand the tradition behind “Senior Assassin,” but we cannot ignore the very real dangers of playing with realistic-looking weapons in public.
Parents: please talk with your students encourage safer ways to celebrate their senior year.
Students: please think about the risks. Your safety and the safety of others are not worth the risk.
Residents: If you see suspicious activity please call 911. Do not assume it’s just a game. As a reminder we are not here to stop kids from having fun. We are here to ensure everyone makes it home safe.