Kenora “Senior Assassins” Trend Sparks Backlash After Targeting Vulnerable Residents

By: Tania Cameron

What started as a so-called “Senior Assassins” trend among graduating students — a game popularized on platforms like TikTok where participants “target” each other with water guns — is now under scrutiny in Kenora after some youths have taken it far beyond its intended boundaries, targeting vulnerable individuals on the streets at night.

The situation has quickly become a point of concern in the community, as residents weigh the difference between a harmless graduation game and behavior that crosses into something more serious. What is typically meant to be a peer-to-peer activity among students is now being questioned after accounts surfaced suggesting the trend may have been directed at individuals who are not part of the game at all.

“A serious warning to parents of graduating students:

I just received some disturbing information. And just so you know, I am friends with all age groups in this town. And this town is small, word spreads fast.

I was sent screenshots and a video of a trend that has taken a turn to the ugly. The Indigenous youth that sent me the info are upset and angry but scared to come forward, so they reached out to me. They also have family on the streets in #Kenora and they are worried for them.

Senior Assassins is a thing I saw on TikTok recently. And it’s happening here in Kenora. It’s supposed to be a fun trend among seniors that are graduating this year. But some have taken to driving around town and shooting a water blaster at the vulnerable on the streets at night. I just confirmed with another source, the name of the victim of this trend.

In the video I was sent, there is someone sitting on a downtown street corner, minding his own business. The car slowly drives by and the youth in the back seat takes aim and hits the guy. It appears to be 3 youth in the vehicle: the driver, front seat passenger and one in the backseat with the water blaster. I can hear one say “maybe not her…that one” and the youth pumps the water blaster at the guy. I also got the description of the vehicle the youth are driving.

I see the name of youth that posted the video. I also see the names of so many kids that are part of that group chat. Some have saved the video, some screenshot the chat and some left the chat group.

I don’t mind calling out adults by their names when they do garbage things on social media. But these are youth – I won’t do that. However, if I find out he’s 18 – – I will consider posting his name.

Parents – if you have a graduating senior, you better talk to them. It might just be water but it is assault. The vulnerable on the streets already have hardship in their lives, now we have jerk kids spraying them with water? I am so pissed off!

Again, this town is small, I will find out if there are other victims out there.”

The reaction across Kenora reflects a broader concern about how quickly a trend can shift from harmless to harmful when it moves beyond its intended scope. In a close-knit community, incidents like this are not abstract. They involve real people, real consequences, and a growing expectation that boundaries should be clearly understood.

The focus now turns to awareness and accountability. Whether through conversations at home, within schools, or across the community, there is a clear sense that what may have started as a game has sparked a much larger discussion about responsibility, judgment, and respect for others.