Braintree Students 'Killing' Each Other In Pregrad Game: Police

BRAINTREE, MA — Assassins are running loose in Braintree, police say, but there’s little need for alarm – if precautions are taken.

The “killers” are seniors at Braintree High School, playing a pregraduation game that began Monday and has been a tradition at the school for years.

Known as Senior Assassin, the game involves students shooting assigned classmates with squirt guns in a friendly competition to be the last one standing.

“While it is intended to be lighthearted, the nature of the game can sometimes lead to confusion and reports of suspicious activity,” Braintree police said in a statement.

The police, the town and Braintree High are working to help keep game participants and the public safe, the statement said.

The Braintree Police Department said it doesn’t encourage playing the game, but issued guidelines for those taking part:

• Respect those who are not participating. If someone asks you to stop, you must stop.
• Physical contact, including grabbing, blocking or detaining others, is not permitted.
• Do not enter private property without permission. If asked to leave, do so immediately.
• Only use brightly colored water guns that are clearly identifiable as toys.
• Do not participate while driving or near moving vehicles.
• Stay out of roadways at all times.

Residents should not approach anyone acting suspiciously, and players should realize that officers may respond to calls about such behavior. If questioned, police said, remain calm, do not run and clearly explain the situation.

Assassin game has real-life consequences

College students began playing various forms of Senior Assassin decades ago, and today high schoolers nationwide have embraced the cutthroat competition.

The assassins usually grab phone video of their “kills” before moving on to a new target, but rules vary. The videos attract hundreds of thousands of likes and views on social media, along with searches for Senior Assassin tips, according to USA Today.

But the game has led to misunderstandings and real-life consequences in Massachusetts and across the country.

In Lawrence, police linked the game to a student’s shooting of two others with “BB-style projectiles” on April 16, according to a social media post – although the victims were not playing Senior Assassin. The shooter was arrested.

Reports show the game has also resulted in the April 7 lockdown of a school outside Chicago, the April 10 arrest of a student in Indiana, and a Kansas student shot and paralyzed in 2024 by the father of the player’s target.

In Braintree, police said in the statement, “We appreciate everyone’s cooperation in helping keep our community safe.”

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Braintree Tradition Prompts Message From Police Amid 'Safety Concerns'