The Sault Ste. Marie Police Service issued a safety advisory on May 13, 2026, urging local students to exercise caution if they are participating in the trending Senior Assassin water gun game. As the activity grows in popularity among graduating high school students, officials are highlighting the potential for public safety risks and unintended criminal consequences.
Constable Lyndsey Pilkington, the High School Liaison Officer for the police service, is meeting with local high school principals and Grade 12 students to discuss the dangers associated with the game. These concerns include the risk of the public mistaking water guns for real firearms, which has led to emergency responses in other communities. In Thunder Bay, for example, police were called after a motorist reported seeing what they believed to be a handgun inside a vehicle, only to discover the object was a water gun being used for the game.
Authorities emphasize that the game is strictly prohibited on school property. The Algoma District School Board has also issued a statement reinforcing that it does not support or encourage activities that may impact the safety of students, staff, or the broader community.
Police have outlined several specific safety rules for those who choose to play. Participants must not involve anyone who is not part of the game, and targeting people without their consent could lead to criminal charges. Additional prohibitions include playing while driving, trespassing, and using pellet, airsoft, or realistic-looking guns. These warnings follow similar advisories issued by law enforcement agencies across Canada, including the RCMP, who have cited the risk of unnecessary 911 calls and public alarm.
The urgency of the warnings is underscored by an ongoing investigation by the Ontario Provincial Police in Kenora. Investigators there are looking into an incident where students allegedly sprayed an unhoused Indigenous man with a water gun from a moving vehicle. Police remind all students that safety and respect for the community are mandatory, and any activity that creates public fear or involves non-consenting individuals may result in serious legal consequences.
