Posted on Thursday April 30, 2026
York Regional Police is warning the community about the ‘Senior Assassin’ game and the dangers of the possession of replica firearms.
The warning comes as officers have seen a re-emergence of the game in the last several weeks.
The game involves students competing to eliminate fellow participants by shooting them with water guns, gel projectiles or foam darts within an allotted time period.
York Regional Police is warning parents and teens of the dangers of replica firearms that look real. Police respond to weapons calls and are required to make quick decisions regarding whether the weapon is real, a toy or a replica. This could have significant consequences.
The community should be aware that when police respond to any call involving a firearm, it is treated as legitimate until an investigation can determine otherwise.
York Regional Police is reminding the public of the following:
- Police-involved shootings have occurred where the firearm is later determined to have been a replica and the officer has been found to be justified in their actions
- There is often no way to tell if the weapon is real prior to investigation
- Replica firearms, air guns, gel guns or toy guns used in the commission of another offence are considered legitimate weapons and those responsible will face significant criminal charges
- If you damage property or injure a person or animal by discharging an air gun, you could be subject to criminal charges in addition to civil liability
- Residents must seriously consider the risks and responsibilities involved in owning any item that fires projectiles
- For the safety of our communities, the purchase and use of these items in our region is strongly discouraged
- Parents are strongly encouraged to monitor their children’s use of these type of guns if they are accessible to them
To report a possible emergency related to firearms, call 9-1-1. For non-emergencies, call 1-866-876-5423, ext. 7008. Information can be shared anonymously by calling Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS, or by visiting www.1800222tips.com.
Crime prevention is our shared responsibility: Find up-to-date crime data in York Region on the Community Safety Data Portal, or become a partner in community safety by signing up for the Security Camera Registry today.
Prepared by: Constable Kevin Nebrija
April 30, 2026
