TROUTMAN, N.C. — A “Senior Assassin” game led to a lockdown at South Iredell High School on Tuesday morning after police say an 18-year-old student used a water gun that was mistaken for a real firearm, prompting reports of an armed person and a precautionary response from officers.
Arkady Mueller, of Mooresville, was charged with disorderly conduct for his involvement in a social media game that used a water gun resembling a real firearm.
The lockdown was initiated out of an abundance of caution after police received reports that a suspect in a white dually truck had pointed a pistol at two teenagers at a nearby convenience store. School resource officers identified the vehicle in the school parking lot, leading to the detention of Mueller and the recovery of a water gun from his vehicle.
The incident began at approximately 8:20 a.m. at the convenience store located at 605 N. Main St. Troutman Police received a report that a subject armed with a pistol had allegedly pointed the weapon at two teenagers inside the store.
By the time officers arrived at the store, both the suspect and the teenagers had already left the scene. Witnesses described the suspect as the driver of a white dually truck.
Following the initial report, school resource officers at South Iredell High School observed a vehicle matching the witness description in the school parking lot. Iredell-Statesville Schools officials immediately placed the campus on lockdown as a precaution while law enforcement conducted an investigation.
Teaching and learning continued as planned for students and staff while the campus was secured.
Officers located the driver of the white truck, later identified as Mueller, inside a classroom. He was detained without incident.
During the investigation, Mueller told officers he was participating in a social media game called “Senior Assassin.”
He stated that the weapon reported at the convenience store was actually a water gun. The game involves students targeting their classmates.
Authorities recovered the water gun from Mueller’s vehicle and found that the item closely resembled a real firearm.
The lockdown was lifted once officers confirmed there was no active threat to the students or staff.
Mueller was subsequently arrested and charged with disorderly conduct – disrupting an educational institution.
A magistrate issued a $5,000 secured bond for the student.
A parent told Channel 9 he called the principal about it.
“That’s scary because so many people have concealed carry,” he said. “I mean, obviously not on a school campus, but allegedly this happened off campus, and then these kids are doing stuff that ... Back when you and I were kids, might’ve just been silly, stuff that, just gets dismissed.”
The Troutman Police Department and South Iredell High School administration issued a statement following the arrest strongly discouraging students from participating in “Senior Assassin” both on and off campus.
South Iredell High School operated on a normal schedule for the remainder of Tuesday.
“Starts out as fun”
Lieutenant Matthew Winfrey of the Union County Sheriff’s Office explained that while students view the activity as a game, the realistic appearance of the toys can lead to life-threatening situations.
“I know that it starts out as fun, but something that starts out as fun could cost somebody their life,” Winfrey said.
The Union County Sheriff’s Office issued a formal statement last week warning that the trend is entering dangerous territory. Winfrey cited a recent encounter where a student’s behavior caused alarm for a local resident.
“A teen was dressed in all dark clothing, in the bushes, and startled a homeowner,” Winfrey said. Participants in the game attempt to ambush their peers to “eliminate” them from the competition.
Winfrey described the process as finding a target to “shoot them with water from this water pistol, so they’re actually eliminated from the game.”
Other students have already faced legal consequences for their participation in the trend. Winfrey mentioned a previous incident where a student pursued a peer in a vehicle.
“We had an incident not all that long ago where somebody gave chase to one of their targets, and that individual actually ended up getting a citation,” Winfrey said.
While senior pranks are a tradition in many schools, Winfrey suggested this specific game is ill-advised compared to other activities.
“Senior pranks have been around a long time. However, I don’t believe senior assassin is a good way to do a senior prank,” Winfrey said.
While this prank is not new, Winfrey said it usually ramps up in late February into March, as seniors approach graduation.
Parents are being asked to have serious conversations with their kids about the risks and consequences of participating in such a prank.
VIDEO: Sheriff warns of dangerous viral game students are playing
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