Mark Wielgosz, staff sergeant with Strathmore RCMP, spoke about the risks behind the "Senior Assassin" game that's grown popular with graduating students.
On Friday, May 23, police issued a lockdown for Strathmore High School after reports of a person with a gun. An investigation revealed that the gun was a water pistol used by students participating in the game.
"From my understanding, the game involves participants entering a fee at the beginning of the game, and the game runs until everyone is eliminated down to the last person, who wins the collective pot in the end," said Wielgosz. "My understanding is that if people are wearing a water wing or a set of goggles, they are unable to be eliminated."
Wielgosz provided some tips for students to help them stay safe while participating.
"At first, if students are choosing their tactics, consider what you're planning to do and how that may look to others who may be witnessing this," added Wielgosz. "We've had calls where one of our members had seen one of these students try to squirt someone from a moving car."
Wielgosz also asked that students purchase water guns that do not resemble actual firearms.
"Somebody who sees another person in possession of what appears to be a real firearm is going to cause concern and it will lead to calls to the police."
The staff sergeant urged for participants to practice safety, as police take calls of firearms very seriously.
"If somebody were to be injured while responding in an emergency manner, we just want to make sure people know that there is a significant amount of risk responding to these calls, even if they're determined to be fake."
Officers from Gleichen, Chestermere, Airdrie, and Drumheller helped respond to Friday's lockdown alongside Strathmore RCMP, including Wielgosz himself.