18-year-old Anakin Zehring, a high school senior from Goddard, Kansas, was paralyzed from the waist down following an episode in a Walmart parking lot on May 11, 2024. The incident happened while Zehring and two friends were participating in the contentious “Senior Assassin” game, which took an unfortunate turn after they targeted a girl and her boyfriend using gel blasters.

The “Senior Assassin” game has drawn national attention and triggered warnings from law enforcement regarding its inherent risks. Authorities point out the possibility of mistaking the toy guns used in the game for actual weapons, which could potentially lead to lethal outcomes.

As per court records and numerous news reports, Zehring and his companions were stationed in a car in the Walmart parking lot when they noticed two teenagers approaching the store. Engaging in the game, they executed a drive-by shooting with their gel blasters, shouting, “I am your senior assassin.” The girl and her companion, hit by the water-filled polymer beads, hurriedly sought refuge inside the Walmart.

The girl immediately notified her father, Ruben Marcus Contreras, about the incident. Contreras, aged 47, armed with a 9mm Smith and Wesson handgun, swiftly drove to the Walmart. Upon reaching the location, he confronted Zehring, who was attempting to maneuver his Chevy Spark out of a parking spot. In the ensuing chaos, Contreras discharged a single shot into the car, hitting Zehring.

Security camera footage from the Walmart parking lot revealed Contreras approaching the driver’s side of Zehring’s car, attempting to open the door. He then pulled out his firearm and fired a single shot into the vehicle.

The bullet inflicted serious injuries, including a pierced duodenum and damage to the spinal cord, resulting in paralysis from the waist down for Zehring. Initially admitted to the hospital in a critical state, he was later transferred to a rehabilitation center. Contreras was arrested on May 15 and faced charges of attempted first-degree murder. He was subsequently released on a $300,000 bail.

The game of “Senior Assassin,” although intended as a harmless year-end ritual for high school seniors, has met with criticism due to the serious harm it can potentially cause.