What is the 'Assassins' game? Chandler PD announce curfew as 'harmless' trend sparks fear

Chandler, Arizona: A seemingly innocuous children's game has East Valley police issuing warning of dangers.

What is the 'Assassins' game?

The game resembles innumerable ones played by children across generations where kids chase each other around pretending to shoot each other with toy guns. In the case of 'Assassins' these guns are squirt guns. Now while these guns contain harmless water, they look unnervingly like real weapons, and therein lies the issue. This resemblance to real weapons has seen police departments across the Phoenix area fielding calls from worried residents. 

So much so that Chandler police are now urging kids to use squirt guns that are bright in color. They also want the youngsters to know not to go onto private property while playing the game.

“We don’t want people in the public being concerned that something more serious is going on because there could be some significant misunderstandings that come with this game, and we want to ensure the public as well, if they happen to see anyone out and about seeing something suspicious, that they call us,” Chandler Police Sgt. Ricardo Gonzales told AZ Family. “If kids are playing a harmless game and it seems realistic, we hope for the best in those situations.”

Chandler police are now enforcing a curfew in the city

Children under the age of 15 must be home between 10pm and 5am.

Teens aged 16 and 17 must be home between midnight and 5am.