A talented baseball player from Texas is now on life support following a serious injury sustained during a popular water gun game among teens across the U.S.
Isaac Real, a 17-year-old senior from South Gran Prairie High School, was playing on April 20th when, while pursuing his friends in the Arlington area, he jumped behind a parked Jeep as part of a game called “Senior Assassin.” Reports indicate that he was struck by the vehicle as it sped away.
Videos from both a phone and a doorbell camera captured a teen positioned on the back bumper of the Jeep right before it took off at a high speed.
According to Laquel Vazquez, a witness, “They were part of ‘Senior Assassin.’ He jumped into the parked Jeep, and then it drove for five minutes before he had anywhere to get off.” She added that the vehicle went over a dip, and he flew out, hitting his head hard on the ground.
The doorbell footage shows him lying on the pavement, attended to by first responders after losing consciousness.
He sustained critical head injuries and was taken to Medical City Arlington, where he remains on life support.
Local authorities confirmed they are investigating the incident.
Isaac, only weeks away from graduation and with a potential scholarship for pitching at a university, now faces a daunting road ahead. His family fears he may not regain full function due to the severe head trauma.
His mother expressed hope, saying, “I believe God is capable of miracles, so I’m praying for a full recovery, not a vegetative state.”
The game of “Senior Assassin” involves players downloading apps that indicate their targets’ locations. Armed with water guns, the objective is to “eliminate” targets by spraying them.
In light of this tragic event, Isaac’s father emphasized the risks associated with seemingly harmless games. “Parents need to be aware of games like this. You really don’t consider the dangers until something like this happens,” Jose Real remarked.
Another witness, Vasquez, added, “You never think it could hit close to home until it actually does.”
The principal of South Gran Prairie High School, Larry Jones, informed parents that participating in such games on school grounds could lead to disciplinary actions, including loss of senior privileges.
Previous warnings from schools and law enforcement highlighted the potential dangers of the game after several incidents involving participants have occurred.
Participants often hide around neighborhoods, which can lead to misunderstandings. Moreover, the use of toy water guns can become dangerous if bystanders mistake them for real weapons.
Anecdotes from last June illustrate these risks. A high school senior in Kansas was paralyzed after being shot by his father in a Walmart parking lot, following a water gun incident during a similar game.
Reports indicated that the bullet caused severe harm, resulting in significant injuries to the teen’s spinal cord that required extensive medical intervention.
