Police Warn Teens Over 'Assassins' Game
- Fremont police warned teenagers to stop playing an 'Assassins' game that uses fake weapons. - Officers said the game has led to high-risk patrol and traffic stops in the city. - Police say it creates safety concerns and could prompt arrests if participants brandish real weapons (patch.com).
Fremont police issued a warning to local teenagers on April 22, 2026, to immediately stop playing the "Assassins" game involving fake weapons. (patch.com) The game requires players to "eliminate" each other by tagging targets with plastic guns, water guns, or Nerf blasters while sneaking around public spaces. Players often wear disguises and hide weapons to avoid detection. (patch.com) Fremont officers reported multiple high-risk traffic stops and patrols triggered by teens carrying concealed replica firearms in vehicles or on streets. One incident involved a driver pulled over after a fake gun was spotted, leading to a tense standoff. (patch.com) Police Chief Craig Brenna stated the activity creates public safety risks, as officers cannot distinguish fake weapons from real ones during initial encounters. "We treat every replica gun sighting as a potential lethal threat," Brenna said. (patch.com) Brandishing replica weapons could lead to arrests for alarming the public or resisting police, even if no real firearm is involved. California Penal Code 417 prohibits drawing or exhibiting imitation firearms in a rude, angry, or threatening manner. (patch.com) (leginfo.legislature.ca.gov) Assassins, also called Killer or Gotcha, originated as a campus tag game in the 1980s at Dartmouth College, where students used squirt guns filled with cold water. It spread to high schools nationwide, evolving with realistic airsoft replicas despite safety debates. (wikipedia.org)) (nbcnews.com) Similar warnings emerged in recent years: Montgomery County, Maryland, police halted a 2023 game after 911 calls about armed teens, and Colorado schools banned it in 2024 following mistaken gun reports. No injuries occurred in Fremont cases so far. (washingtonpost.com) (denverpost.com) Teen advocates argue Assassins teaches strategy and social skills harmlessly, with strict rules banning real guns or unsafe areas. Fremont police urge parents to monitor participation and confiscate props. (patch.com) (reddit.com) Fremont Police Department will continue responding to reports with drawn weapons until the games end. (patch.com)
