With $5,320 on the line, a frozen Venmo account and 266 disgruntled players, the well-loved “senior assassin” tradition has been cancelled indefinitely. 

The commissioner is typically anonymous and proctors the game, establishing rules and safeguarding the prize money. Following recent events, the identity of the user was leaked on several social media platforms. 

“I decided to host senior assassin initially just because I thought it would be fun,” the commissioner said in a statement to the Granite Bay Gazette. “I also wanted to be anonymous because I was told by previous people who ran it that everyone complains all the time.” 

On March 29, the user of the Instagram account “gbhs_senior_assasin_2025” drafted a statement:

“The commissioner and team is taking $1520 from the pot as compensation for the time and effort spent organizing, managing, and overseeing the game.”

Following this post, there was an immediate influx of comments from game participants who were frustrated with the allocation of the money. In previous years, when commissioners have taken compensation from the prize money, there have been similar outcries from participants. 

“The $1500 commission was just because I wanted money, nothing really too it,” the commissioner said. “I didn’t think people would care very much about it to be honest and it got out of hand so fast before I even had the chance to change the commission.”

After the statement was issued, the commissioner received threats of death, escalating the situation.

Senior assassin, an annual tradition for seniors, is a game where seniors are given targets and have to shoot them with a water gun during a certain timeframe. With rounds lasting approximately one week, participants have to aim to avoid being shot at with a water gun during the week. However, if students wear goggles or floaties, they are immune from any potential deaths when shot at. Each player pays $20 to participate. 

While the game is a school tradition that 266 seniors were participating in, it is not a student government run event. Following the statement regarding the commissioner’s cut, frustrated players took to student government to release their anger. 

“It was sad to hear students targeting student government for all of this, as well as targeting seniors in student government like me. But the truth is, in student government, we all have too much on our plates with upcoming events to even think about running something like that,” Associated Student Body President Bella Simmons said. 

Senior participants reported the Venmo account to which they sent their player’s fee. The commissioner’s bank account was frozen as a result of reporting and rapid transactions, and the original Instagram account published a statement that refunds could not be given as long as the account is frozen.

“When I found out the commissioner was taking $1520, I was really upset. Nobody who paid the 20 bucks expected their money to go to that. It said it was for the commissioner and their ‘team,’ but as far as I can see, it’s just one person,” Kian McCarthy, GBHS senior and participant, said. 

The commissioner told the Gazette that there were four people total working on running the account and managing the game. 

The $5,320 is being transferred to a replacement account “gbhsseniorassasin25;” however, following the resignation of the previous commissioner, several new accounts appeared on Instagram leaving participants confused and fraud suspicions prominent. 

“I was trying to transfer the funds to the new owner and it was going smoothly until someone who was a part of that new ownership leaked my name to a group chat of 100 people. So although by no means am I blaming them for this outcome, I think that this could have gone a lot smoother if this person had not added gasoline to the fire and made everyone believe that I stole a bunch of money,” the commissioner said. 

While some players have, other participants have yet to receive refunds. 

As of right now, the game is speculated to be entirely cancelled, making the Class of 2025’s senior assassin to be the first in GBHS history to have the game cancelled. Currently, the original account has been deactivated/deleted. 

“I just want the people who didn’t lose their minds to know that I’m sorry they couldn’t enjoy senior assassin this year. I really feel bad for the people who weren’t a part of that angry mob who just wanted to play the game,” the commissioner said. “Lastly, I would like everyone to know that I am truly sorry this happened and I have no intention of taking anyone’s money. I will be giving refunds to everyone who lost their money in the game.”

Article updated 4/8/25

The Gazette chose not to include the name of the commissioner as a result of the student, and students affiliated, receiving death threats. Harassment of any form is not tolerated. 

The official replacement account (the account to which the prize money was delineated to/in charge of issuing refunds) has made a statement that they are planning for a replacement competition following the week of break (4/14-4/18) which will be free entry, and entirely funded off of optional donations.