There’s a controversial trend among high school seniors that is raising concerns across the country. The game, called “Senior Assassin,” is popping up all over. It’s a simple game, in theory. Kids run around with water guns at night. Their goal is to “assassinate” their classmates by shooting water at them.
But even though the game seems harmless, it can have dangerous and deadly consequences. After playing the game with a group of kids, a boy in Texas is fighting for his life. Now, his family wants to draw attention to the dangers of the game.
Seventeen-year-old Isaac Leal is a senior at South Grand Prairie High School. On April 20, 2025, the teen was playing “Senior Assassin” with classmates when he was involved in a serious accident. Instead of getting ready for graduation, he’s in a hospital, clinging to life.
“He jumped on a young girl’s Jeep as it was parked,” the teen’s mother, Raquel Vazquez, told NBC DFW. “The girl reversed and took off and drove for five minutes at a high speed to where he could not jump off. She hit a dip and that’s where I was told, allegedly, he flew off the Jeep and hit his head.”
Cellphone and surveillance video show the teen jumping on the back of a Jeep outside a home in Arlington, Texas. The Jeep doesn’t go far before making several turns. Then, Leal was on the pavement. An ambulance was called and arrived on scene to help Leal. Police were not dispatched at the time, which Leal’s parents are unhappy with. The parents later filed a report with Arlington Police on May 3.
“We have been in contact with Mr. Leal’s family and we are currently investigating this incident to determine whether a criminal offense occurred,” Arlington PD said in a statement shared by NBC. “The APD Traffic Division is leading the investigation. Based on the evidence we have reviewed, it appears Mr. Leal was hanging out the back of the vehicle when the accident occurred.”
However, Vasquez has other thoughts on the incident. “I understand accidents happen, but this was not an accident,” she told CBS News. As her son fights for his life, his parents are sharing his story to highlight the dangers of “Senior Assassin.”
“People need to be aware of games like this, as a teenager, you’re not aware if something bad is gonna happen,” Jose Leal, the boy’s father, told CBS. He explained that there’s an app the kids use to find others who are playing. “You never think it’s going to hit close to home until it does,” Vasquez added.
