‘Senior assassin’ water gun prank leads to lockdown at NC high school
A reported armed robbery at an Iredell County store that led to a school lockdown Tuesday morning ended up being a senior prank involving a water gun shaped like a pistol, according to police.
An 18-year-old student at South Iredell High School was charged with disorderly conduct after pointing the water gun at two teenagers at a store as part of a social media trend, Troutman Police Chief Josh Watson said in an email.
The school, located near the store at 605 North Main Street, was locked down, Watson said. The student left the store in a white truck that was later spotted at the high school.
The student told police he was taking part in a social media trend called “Senior Assassin,” Watson said. Students use water guns to catch each other by surprise and spray each other .
The water gun the student used “was found to closely resemble a real firearm,” Watson wrote. “Once officers confirmed there was no active threat to students or staff, the lockdown was lifted.”
The Union County Sheriff’s Office issued a statement on March 13 discouraging students from taking part in the trend and from using water guns that resemble real guns. Deputies stopped two teenagers last March from “ambushing” a classmate at her home, which could have possibly led to danger, the office said.
In February 2025, a student in Florida was shot during one of these pranks after an off-duty officer believed they were prowling outside his home at night, according to the Miami Herald.
“While this incident stemmed from a game, Troutman Police Department and the administration of South Iredell High School strongly discourage participation in “Senior Assassin,” both on and off campus,” Watson wrote in his email. “Activities of this nature can create significant public alarm and may be perceived as a real threat, potentially leading to serious or life-threatening consequences.”
