Ask any high school senior about the “assassins” game and they’ll tell you it’s all about fun.

The police in the communities in which the game is played, they don’t necessarily see it that way.

In Livermore, students have been cited for driving double the speed limit when they believed they were being pursued, and one girl even crashed into a house when she lost control of her car trying to evade a “kill shot.”

In Ripon, students have been attacked by dogs when they were mistaken by homeowners for prowlers.

And last year in Merced, a student at Golden Valley High School was arrested and four others were disciplined by school officials after their “assassins” exploits in a neighborhood near the campus triggered a real-life police response.

So far the Manteca Police Department hasn’t clarified its stance regarding the game that is played by high school seniors on campuses across the district in a variety of different ways. And while some Manteca Unified campuses, like Sierra High School, have taken the step of issuing an official statement regarding the game, others have not.

“We’ve been told to be smart about what we’re doing and that no part of the game can take place on campus,” said a Lathrop High School student who said they participate in the game. “A lot of times you’re not even supposed to talk about it. It’s something that we try to do on our own time.”

Each school does something a little bit differently. At Sierra and Manteca, the game and its rules are detailed on a Twitter feed that serve as a communication portal for scoring and official correspondence. Some schools use a team format while others follow a tournament format. In some cases, those who participate often put up money and the last person standing takes the cash, according to Ripon Lt. Steven Merchant.

But as what happened last year in Merced shows, those who aren’t adept in the game – which at least locally is played with NERF guns and swords – can easily misinterpret something.

That would never happen here in Manteca, says one Sierra High School student who asked not to be named, mainly because the use of realistic looking weapons is discouraged. Airsoft guns, which shoot small plastic projectiles, have been used in some variations of the game but are forbidden for all aspects of safety.

“If it’s a NERF gun there’s no way for the police or a neighbor or anybody to think that it’s actually real. You see that stuff on the news,” said the student. “All you have to do is be smart about it. If you have a gun that looks real and you pull it out in a gas station parking lot then you’re going to invite trouble. Nobody wants trouble. This is all about fun.”

That’s not saying there haven’t been issues in Manteca that are at least attributed to the game.

An accident near Sierra High School that snarled local traffic recently was, according to some students The Bulletin talked to, directly related to Senior Assassination. The school has taken an anti-participation stance.

“It has been brought to our attention that many Sierra HS Seniors are participating in a game called ‘Senior Assassination.’ This game is in no way affiliated with, endorsed by, or supported by Sierra High School. Participation in this event is strictly prohibited on school grounds, at any school activity or at any MUSD function,” read a letter that was distributed to students and parents. “Any student caught participating in this activity will be disciplined accordingly.

“Please discuss this with your senior and their participation in this event. This activity can lead to dangerous and unsafe situations as evidenced by other schools around the valley. Sierra High School strongly discourages any participation in this event.”