Fremont Police Warn Against 'Assassins' Game
- Teens playing a mock 'assassins' game have prompted police safety concerns after reports of mistaken threats. - The game uses fake weapons but recent incidents prompted high-risk patrols and traffic stops. - Police say the game's lookalike props increase danger and urge parents to intervene (patch.com).
Fremont police are warning high school seniors to stop playing “Assassins” after reports of teens carrying toy guns that looked real enough to trigger police responses. (ktvu.com) The game is an off-campus tradition in which 12th-graders use water guns, Nerf blasters, or other toy guns to “eliminate” assigned classmates around the city. Fremont police said the activity is being played in Fremont and in other parts of the Bay Area and the country. (kron4.com) Police said the recent calls have led to high-risk patrols and traffic stops because officers and bystanders could not tell whether the guns were fake. The department said every report involving possible gun violence or suspicious firearm use is treated as real until officers determine otherwise. (ktvu.com) The warning landed in late April, a stretch when senior prank culture and end-of-year games tend to pick up before graduation. Fremont police said the game pulls officers away from legitimate emergencies when callers report people carrying what appear to be firearms. (hoodline.com) The department also tied the warning to specific conduct beyond the game itself. Police said trespassing, reckless driving, or carrying an item that resembles a firearm can lead to law enforcement contact, citations, or arrest. (kron4.com) California law separately bars people from openly displaying an imitation firearm in a public place, including streets, sidewalks, parks, driveways, parking lots, and cars. The statute, Penal Code Section 20170, treats a first violation as an infraction. (justia.com) Fremont police said imitation or toy weapons are not allowed on school campuses. The department said it is working with Fremont Unified School District and asking parents to talk with students about the risks before the game spills onto school property or into traffic. (kron4.com) Parents could also face costs if something goes wrong. Fremont police said injuries or property damage tied to the game could leave parents financially liable, adding another consequence to a tradition that officers say now looks too much like a real weapons call. (ktvu.com)
