‘Senior Assassins’ tag game takes central role in teen’s death investigation

A rite of passage at many high schools now is the option to join a game at the end of the school year called “Senior Assassin,” essentially a game of tag among seniors using water guns that is recorded on video and posted to social media.

“ Justin saw something in the individual’s hand he saw as a threat,” family attorney Nick Johnson told reporters, of the moment the teens emerged from behind the cars Friday night. “We need to educate the public about what happened. This was not just a game of tag. Why was he targeted?” Games of Senior Assassin have been occurring across the region and nation in recent weeks involving high school students.

Lani Wise, who graduated from Palmyra High School in 2023 and participated in Senior Assassins last year, said players from her high school had to record the tag on video for it to count. Last year she recalled sitting near a target’s house and someone reported them to police. Officers arrived, questioned them and told them to leave, Wise said. “They also said we needed to be careful with water guns,” she said.

If the player doesn’t complete their assassination by Saturday night, or if they get tagged before Saturday night, they are eliminated.

Central-Dauphin Justin-Johnson Lower-Paxton Dauphin-County

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