BREAKING: Students playing “Water Assassins” involved in car accident
BREAKING, March 12 9:43PM—Students participating in the school-wide game of “Water Assassins” have been looking over their shoulders, behind their cars, and outside their bedroom windows constantly since the game started on March 10. On the afternoon of March 12, the situation escalated when two cars full of students were involved in an accident in the midst of an “assassination” attempt. No one was injured.
More than 200 students, in 52 teams of five, are participating in “Water Assassins”. The goal of the game is for each team to eliminate two assigned targets in a 2-week period, while also avoiding being “assassinated” themselves. According to the official rules, which can be found online here, an elimination occurs when a target is sprayed with water that creates a mark “bigger than a palm”. The last team standing receives the collection of the $5 entry fees – in total, around $1,300 – to distribute amongst their team members as they wish.
The competition surrounding the game has been fierce, with one team going so far as to follow their target into the Starbucks drive-thru and wait for her to roll her window down to order before eliminating her (see video here). There have also been allegations of threats.
NPHS alumnus Zach Okun is monitoring the situation. Okun, who graduated early in January and is currently attending the University of Oregon, is the official moderator for the game. Following the accident, Okun eliminated one of the teams involved in the crash. He tweeted from the game’s official Twitter account that “Any blatantly reckless acts will have you and your entire team kicked from the game. This game isn’t worth putting others at risk.”
Update, March 13 6:11 PM: At 9:14 AM on March 13, Zach Okun tweeted that “Water Assassins” would “no longer continue, effective immediately”.
