Sylvania police urge zero tolerance after ‘senior‑assassin’ water‑gun game leads to dangerous incidents

Police Chief Miller told the Sylvania City Council on April 21 that what began as a water‑gun “senior‑assassin” game organized by graduating classes at local high schools escalated over a single day into incidents that endangered students, motorists and officers.

The chief’s update came during the council’s April 21 meeting and described several episodes that prompted a joint city–township response and news coverage. “It was something that could have ended very, very badly,” Miller said, describing students hiding in shrubs with toy weapons, high‑speed chases across town and an officer who was briefly boxed in by a vehicle while responding to a traffic stop.

The council heard why officials moved quickly to intervene. Miller said officers responded to a “weapons” call at Maguire Insurance after a person in dark clothing was seen stalking the building; officers later found a student in shrubs with a water pistol. Township officers’ dashcam video also captured students firing water‑guns from one car toward occupants of another vehicle while driving on Central Avenue, Miller said.

Miller said an officer, Officer Simmons, was completing a traffic stop when a second vehicle pulled up and boxed her in; a passenger then approached with a water pistol and ran toward the officer’s patrol car. Miller said the department coordinated with school resource officers and school administrators — identified in the meeting as Dr. Motley and assistant superintendent Tim Ziroff — to identify and contact students and parents.

“The game itself is not illegal,” Miller said, adding that it is “safe to be played as long as you’re playing it in a confined environment.” He said the problem in Sylvania had been that students were playing on roadways, in parking lots and after dark, and that some participants had offered cash prizes — $500 for first place at each high school and $250 and $250 for second and third at Northview, Miller said — which increased incentives to take greater risks.

Miller told the council the department and Sylvania‑area school officials issued a joint press release and shared video with TV outlets; Miller said the video had been viewed tens of thousands of times. He said there were no new calls tied to the game over the weekend but noted a nearby township reported a 13‑year‑old who was struck by a gel‑pellet “Orbi” gun and developed welts.

Council members praised the response and emphasized the risk of escalation if bystanders or private citizens — including those carrying firearms — misinterpret a student with a toy weapon. One council member said parents should be notified because, in their household, middle‑ and high‑school children already knew the game rules. Miller said schools were in the process of returning prize money and informing families that the events were over.

Council members asked Miller to convey the council’s thanks to Officer Simmons for her handling of the traffic‑stop incident. The update concluded with officials urging parents, schools and students to avoid playing the game in public places and to report unsafe behavior to law enforcement.