Latest news with #EddieCathey
Yahoo
15-03-2025
- Yahoo
NC sheriff warns parents about danger of teens playing ‘assassins' squirt gun game
Amid a rash of incidents in his county, a North Carolina sheriff is warning parents about the danger of teens playing a late-night squirt gun game called 'Senior Assassins.' Teens wear dark clothes and masks to 'ambush' an unsuspecting classmate, Union County Sheriff Eddie Cathey said on social media Thursday. The water guns look real, he said. Deputies responded to multiple calls recently about students dressed in black and 'acting suspiciously' around homes and businesses in the Weddington, Waxhaw and Wesley Chapel areas, he said. The game is a national trend. In the most alarming incident, deputies were called to a home on Crane Road near Waxhaw on Wednesday night, Cathey said. Officers found two high school students in all-black hiding outside the home, he said. The teens were set to 'ambush' and spray water on a classmate when she returned home and left her car, the sheriff said. 'Thankfully, deputies arrived first and were able to intervene before the situation escalated,' Cathey said. Cathey urged parents to stress with their teens 'the serious risks of this game.' Carrying water guns that look like real guns 'can lead to confusion, fear and dangerous situations,' Cathey said. Sneaking around homes at night can get someone shot — for real, he said. That's especially true 'where many homeowners take their security very seriously and are often armed with real weapons,' Cathey said. The game has caused injuries and even a death in other states. On Feb. 12, an off-duty Florida Department of Law Enforcement agent shot a teen in his neighborhood who was playing the game in Yulee, about 25 miles north of Jacksonville, McClatchy News reported. The teen was treated for non-life threatening injuries. In May 2024, the family of a 16-year-old in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, said their son died when he was startled by others aiming guns at him during the game, triggering a heart condition, Penn Live reported.
Yahoo
13-03-2025
- Yahoo
‘Senior Assassin': Sheriff warns of dangerous viral game students are playing
Sheriff Eddie Cathey is urging parents to intervene after deputies responded to multiple incidents involving high school students playing a dangerous viral game called 'Senior Assassin' in the Weddington, Waxhaw, and Wesley Chapel areas. 'Balanced Digital Habits': TikTok introduces parental controls for user under 16 The game involves students targeting their classmates by ambushing them with water guns, which often resemble real weapons, leading to confusion and potential danger. Deputies have received reports of teens wearing dark clothing and masks, acting suspiciously around homes and businesses. 'Parents, We Need Your Help! Please speak to your teens about the serious risks of this game,' Sheriff Cathey said. 'Carrying water guns that resemble real weapons in public or private places can lead to confusion, fear, and dangerous situations.' One of the most concerning incidents occurred late Wednesday night near Crane Road, where deputies were called to a home after two high school students, dressed in all black, were spotted hiding along the side of a house. They were preparing to ambush and spray water on their classmate as she returned home and got out of her car. Fortunately, deputies arrived first and intervened before the situation escalated. Sheriff Cathey emphasized the importance of parents having open conversations with their children about the potential dangers and consequences of participating in this game. He highlighted the risk of such activities being misinterpreted as suspicious or criminal behavior, especially in communities where homeowners take security seriously and may be armed. Residents are encouraged to report any suspicious or criminal behavior to authorities immediately by calling 911. The sheriff's office is working with the community to ensure safety and prevent any further incidents related to the game. VIDEO: TikTok trend: Some theaters ban teens in suits over #gentleminions
