North Texas Teen Critically Injured in Senior Assassin Game Gone Wrong

A 17-year-old in North Texas is fighting for his life after a tragic incident stemming from participation in a "senior assassin" water gun game. Isaac Leal, a high school senior and promising baseball player, sustained a severe head injury after falling off a vehicle he reportedly jumped onto as part of the game. The incident occurred on April 20th in Arlington, Texas, and has left Leal on life support, devastating his family and prompting calls for a criminal investigation.

According to local news reports from KXAS and KTVT, Leal hopped onto the back of a Jeep as it began to move out of a driveway. His mother, Raquel Vazquez, told KXAS that she believes Leal fell off the vehicle after it hit a bump in the road. She further stated that a young girl driving the Jeep allegedly reached high speeds for approximately five minutes before the incident, culminating in the vehicle hitting a dip that caused Leal to fall.

"Senior assassin," the game at the heart of this tragedy, is a popular, albeit controversial, activity often played by soon-to-be high school graduates. The premise of the game involves participants using water guns, paintball guns, or airsoft guns to "eliminate" each other by spraying them with water or paint. The game continues until only one person remains "unsoaked," declaring them the winner.

Jose Leal, Isaac’s father, explained to KTVT that participants in the game typically use a mobile app to track each other’s locations. "Everybody that’s playing has to download that app," he said, "So, that way, they can tell you what location each person is at." The use of such technology adds another layer of complexity and potential risk to the game.

The incident has occurred just weeks before Leal’s scheduled high school graduation from South Grand Prairie High School, where he was a star baseball player. The timing has amplified the tragedy, as his family grapples with the possibility of losing their son during what should be a celebratory period.

Both Jose Leal and Raquel Vazquez are vehemently urging authorities to conduct a thorough criminal investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident. Jose Leal emphasized the length of time his son was holding onto the vehicle, stating to KTVT that the driver made six turns over five minutes, adding, "that’s five minutes of him holding on for his life."

Raquel Vazquez expressed her belief that the incident was not simply an accident. "I understand accidents happen, but this was not an accident," she told the station. The emotional toll of the situation is evident in her statement, "I have not been able to go home because I can’t imagine going home without him."

The Arlington Police Department has confirmed that they are investigating the incident as a traffic accident. They have also stated that security cameras captured parts of the event. However, the department has not yet confirmed any foul play. In a statement reported by KTVT, the police department said that "Mr. Leal was hanging out the back of the vehicle when the accident occurred."

USA TODAY has reached out to Vazquez, Jose Leal, and the Arlington Police Department for further comment on the ongoing investigation.

The tragic injury to Isaac Leal has reignited concerns and warnings about the dangers associated with "senior assassin" and similar games. Law enforcement agencies, educators, and state officials across the United States have issued repeated warnings to teenagers regarding these activities. These warnings highlight not only the potential for accidental injuries but also the risk of misidentification of toy guns as real weapons, leading to potentially deadly confrontations.

In April, police in Sylvania, Ohio, issued a warning after discovering that students had modified their toy guns to appear more realistic. The department stated that they had received several calls of concern from the public due to these realistic-looking toy weapons. "These scenarios present clear risks of tragic outcomes, including the possibility of officers or armed citizens mistaking students for actual threats," the department wrote on April 18th.

Earlier in 2024, a high school principal in Florida sent a video to parents, cautioning them about the dangers of the trend. The principal asserted that any student participating in "senior assassin" on school grounds would face suspension, as reported by Florida Today, part of the USA TODAY Network.

Similar concerns have been raised in the Chicago area. Last year, police in several Chicago suburbs issued alerts about the game, as reported by WMAQ-TV. These alerts cited "concerning incidents," including students wearing ski masks and carrying fake weapons that closely resembled real firearms.

The various incidents and warnings underscore the potential for serious consequences arising from seemingly harmless games like "senior assassin." The combination of vehicular involvement, the use of realistic-looking toy weapons, and the element of surprise inherent in the game creates a dangerous environment that can lead to tragic outcomes, as tragically illustrated by the case of Isaac Leal. The incident serves as a stark reminder for parents, educators, and law enforcement to continue to educate teenagers about the risks associated with these games and to encourage them to find safer and more responsible ways to celebrate their upcoming graduation. The focus must be on preventing future tragedies and ensuring the safety and well-being of all students.