High school student in critical condition after controversial 'senior assassin' game
High school student in critical condition after controversial 'senior assassin' game
A North Texas teenager is in critical condition after falling off a vehicle he reportedly hopped onto while playing a controversial water gun game often played by high school seniors.
Isaac Leal, 17, jumped onto the back of a Jeep that began to pull out of a driveway in Arlington on April 20 and later hit the ground, suffering a severe head injury, according to local stations KXAS and KTVT.
Raquel Vazquez, the boy's mother, told KXAS she believes Leal fell off after the vehicle hit a bump on the road. She said a young girl driving the Jeep reached high speeds for around five minutes before eventually hitting a dip, the outlet reported.
The incident happened while playing prank game known as "senior assassin," commonly played by soon-to-be high school graduates. Participants spray each other with water guns, paintball or airsoft guns until there is a winner who has not been soaked.
"Everybody that's playing has to download that app," Isaac Leal's father, Jose Leal, told KTVT. "So, that way, they can tell you what location each person is at."
Parents seek criminal investigation in son's injury
Leal, a baseball star at South Grand Prairie High School, is on life support after suffering the head injury weeks ahead of his high school graduation, KTVT reported.
Both Jose Leal and Vazquez are urging authorities to conduct a criminal investigation into the incident. Jose Leal told KTVT the driver made six turns over five minutes, adding, "that's five minutes of him holding on for his life."
"I understand accidents happen, but this was not an accident," Vazquez told the station. "I have not been able to go home because I can't imagine going home without him."
The Arlington Police Department said it is investigating the traffic incident that security cameras partly captured but have not confirmed any foul play, KTVT reported. The department reportedly said in a statement that "Mr. Leal was hanging out the back of the vehicle when the accident occurred."
USA TODAY has reached out to Vazquez, Jose Leal and the Arlington Police Department for comment.
Officials previously warned against 'senior assassin' game
The latest injury comes after police agencies, educators and state officials have warned teens across the U.S. not to play "senior assassin," "water wars," "senior splashin" or other similar games. Officials have also warned that their toy guns could be mistaken for a real weapon.
Police in Sylvania, Ohio warned in April that students had made their toy guns more realistic and that the department received several calls of concern.
"These scenarios present clear risks of tragic outcomes, including the possibility of officers or armed citizens mistaking students for actual threats," the department wrote on April 18.
In 2024, a Florida high school principal sent a video to parents warning them of the trend's dangers, asserting that any student participating in it on school grounds would face suspension, reported Florida Today, part of the USA TODAY Network.
Police in several Chicago suburbs sent out alerts about the trend last year, WMAQ-TV reported, saying that there have been "concerning incidents," including kids wearing ski masks and carrying fake weapons that look real.
Contributing: Emilee Coblentz
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
6 hours ago
- Yahoo
North Texas teen critically injured in ‘Senior Assassin' game dies in hospital
A North Texas high school senior died after more than a month on life support from injuries sustained in an accident while playing the game 'Senior Assassin' in Arlington. Isaac Leal, 17, died on Monday, June 2, from a blunt force injury to the head, according to the Tarrant County Medical Examiner's Office. His death was ruled an accident. 'He was full of life, dreams and so much potential. Isaac brought light to everyone around him with a smile, kind heart and spirit that touched so many,' a family member wrote in a GoFundMe to raise donations for his memorial service. Leal was hospitalized for over a month and underwent multiple surgeries and tests while he was in a coma, according to the GoFundMe account. Leal, a baseball player at South Grand Prairie High School, was chasing other students with his water gun in an Arlington neighborhood on April 20, police said. During the game, Leal jumped onto the back of a parked Jeep, which drove through the residential neighborhood in the 6500 block of Devine Drive, Arlington police said. After the Jeep turned onto Setter Drive, Leal fell off the vehicle and hit his head. The driver stopped and 911 was called, police said. 🚨 More top stories from our newsroom: → Warrant: Stranger shot 3 and 'walked away calmly' → Tarrant County approves new commissioners precincts → Woman's body pulled from Trinity River [Get our breaking news alerts.] Leal was taken to the Medical City hospital in Arlington after EMS responded to the scene. Arlington police said they began investigating on May 3 after they were informed that the accident involved a vehicle. No criminal charges were filed against the driver. Police said there was no evidence to show that the driver of the Jeep was driving recklessly or intentionally trying to cause Leal to fall off the vehicle.
Yahoo
12 hours ago
- Yahoo
Parents are charged after their son, 7, is struck dead in a car accident
The grieving parents of a 7-year-old child who died hours after being hit by a car were charged with involuntary manslaughter after allowing him and his brother, 10, to walk home unaccompanied by an adult from a nearby grocery store. Jessica Ivey and Samuele Jenkins were charged two days after their son Legend died from injuries caused by being struck by a Jeep on May 27 in Gastonia, a rural town in North Carolina. The 76-year-old driver will not face any charges. The Food Lion store is two blocks away from their home. The parents said the children were with their mother when they asked to meet their father at the store, and she allowed them to leave, according to the Gaston Gazette. The brothers had to cross the busy, four-lane road, but attempted to go between crosswalks. Witnesses told WSOC-TV Gastonia that Legend stepped into traffic as his older brother attempted to hold him back. Jenkins said he was on the phone with his elder son when the younger child was hit. 'I heard my oldest son yell, 'Legend, no!' so I hung up and ran. I just ran to find them,' he told the local television station. Two days later, Gastonia police arrested the parents, who are being held on $1.5 million bond. 'In such cases, adults must be held accountable for their responsibilities to ensure a safe environment for their children,' police said in a statement. Gastonia police declined to comment to NBC News, but said in a statement that 'there is no evidence of speeding or wrongdoing on the part of the driver, therefore no charges have been filed. The driver continues to be cooperative and the incident remains under active investigation by the Gastonia Police Department's Traffic Division.' The parents' public defenders did not respond to a request for comment on Wednesday. Ivey, the mother, said before her arrest to WSOC that it was the first time she let the children walk alone. 'It was just devastating, I'm still in shock, I'm in shock,' she said. 'It's hard, I haven't stopped crying; my husband hasn't stopped crying. Honestly, I want justice for my baby.' Summer Williams was in her car and witnessed the event. She told WSOC that Legend, apparently unaware of oncoming traffic, jumped into the street to the surprise of his brother, who tried to stop him. Williams said she comforted the child until paramedics arrived. 'Even at night, I still see his face,' she said. 'Just letting him know that somebody was there and he wasn't alone. 'Stay with us, sweetheart. You're going to be all right. Stay with us,'' Williams said she told the child. This article was originally published on
Yahoo
12 hours ago
- Yahoo
Man faces animal cruelty charge after kitten thrown on roof
Bellmead, Tx (FOX 44) – A 24-year-old man already out on bail on other charges has been arrested after a kitten was thrown onto a roof causing serious injuries. Daniel Ryan Feland was booked into the McLennan County Jail Monday evening following the police investigation of the incident in the 1000 block of Dosset Street in Bellmead. Officers were called to that location Monday and were told that a man had come to the door about 1 a.m. An arrest affidavit stated that police observed a man caught on home camera video knocking on the front door. The affidavit stated he could be seen on the video carrying a small kitten that belonged to one of the residents in his hands. The affidavit stated that after not getting an answer at the door, the man is seen throwing the kitten into the air, causing it to land on the roof of the house. The affidavit stated the kitten suffered some sort of spinal injury and was observe by the officers to be dragging its back legs. Woman accused of purposely striking woman with Jeep The affidavit stated the resident provided officers with the home video footage and a sworn statement. The kitten's owner also provided a possible location where the man might be found. Officers went to that location and were present as a man identified as Daniel Ryan Feland returned. He was taken into custody with the affidavit stating that he was transported to the jail on felony level animal cruelty charges. Jail records also indicated that being held on previously out on bond for unrelated charges of burglary of a building and aggravated assault causes bodily injuries of a family member. The jail reports now those bonds are off and he remains in jail. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
