Preparedness
Kansas Prank Prompted by Social Media Escalates to Tragic Shooting
An incident that turned a light-hearted Kansas high school prank into a tragic event has brought to light the dire consequences when games are taken to extremes. Last month, a group of teenagers engaged in a “senior assassin” prank involving gel bead guns turned perilous when a real firearm came into play, leaving one teen paralyzed from the waist down.
The event, initially reported by Fox News Digital, occurred in the vicinity of a Walmart in Goddard just before 5:00 p.m. on May 11. The Sedgwick Sheriff’s Office responded to the shooting that left 18-year-old Anakin Zehring severely injured with a gunshot wound to his back, hitting his kidney, liver, and spinal cord.
Anakin’s GoFundMe page stated,
“On May 11th, our lives changed forever when my son was involved in the tragic incident at the Goddard Walmart shooting. He sustained severe injuries, including a bullet wound that punctured his duodenum (upper part of the small intestine) and damaged his spinal cord, causing loss of sensation from the waist down. Despite undergoing four surgeries and intense medical care, his recovery journey is just beginning, and we need your help.”
The “senior assassin” game, a phenomenon stemming from social media, had high schoolers ‘assassinating’ each other using gel bead guns and water guns. It’s not uncommon for participants to share their experiences on various social platforms.
The calamity unfolded when Zehring and his friends shot their gel-bead guns at two teenagers outside the Goddard Walmart. Discrepancies arose regarding who fired the gel blaster, but it is undisputed that their actions led to the escalation of events.
Following the gel-bead gun incident, one of the targeted teenagers informed her father, Ruben Marcus Contreras, of the situation. Contreras, armed with a real firearm, located Zehring and his friends in a Chevrolet Spark in the Walmart parking lot. This is where the prank took a deadly turn, resulting in Contreras discharging his handgun into the vehicle, gravely wounding Zehring.
Contreras has since been charged with first-degree attempted murder for his actions.
As of this report, Zehring’s GoFundMe has garnered $12,074 towards their goal of $50,000. The fundraiser’s plea states, “Every donation, no matter how small, brings us one step closer to ensuring he gets the care and support he needs. We are eternally grateful for any assistance you can provide. If you cannot donate, your prayers and shares of this campaign are equally valuable in spreading the word.”
This tragic event serves as a stark reminder of the potential consequences when harmless pranks turn serious and underscores the importance of handling such situations with restraint and wisdom.
Let us know what you think, please share your thoughts in the comments below.
Robert Jenkins
June 22, 2024 at 12:06 pm
Number one If number one had not happpen the other things would not sobeen in play . But all so the other would not had happen with some common sence.
Daniel Quigley
June 22, 2024 at 12:31 pm
It’s sad that some idiot so called adult feels it’s OK to bring a real gun to a water gun fight. I pray that idiot using his real gun never again walks this Earth as a free man spending the rest of his life in prison. My prayers go out to the young man he tried to kill as well as his friends who witnessed this deadly assault.
Timothy
June 22, 2024 at 1:40 pm
the over reach of laws written by gov’t. (idiots) in Amerika, really believe they can stop natural selection. Only GOD chooses who lives and who dies. He is the giver of life. Silly man can only take life and destroy it.
Gotcha
June 22, 2024 at 2:01 pm
There is not enough information in this article to make an informed opinion as to who is “more at fault”. After reading the immature comment, it could easily be said that the “idiot” was the person who has been watching movies like Gotcha and thought it would be a good idea to chase people around a crowded public space with realistic looking airsoft guns. Until more detailed information is provided there is no way to make an educated opinion of the “adult’s” actions.
T Lau
June 22, 2024 at 2:38 pm
Your brain doesn’t work fast enough to determine if a gun is real or not. Anyone that plays with guns should understand that there are consequences if not played in a private gaming area. I feel bad that this happened to the boy, BUT those games should not be allowed in the open world. The Dad was wrong in shooting at a fleeing car, so they both bear responsibility.
judy
June 22, 2024 at 3:48 pm
BOYS WILL BE BOYS. Men will be men, And a father’s reaction to a daughter lacking correct information is deadly.
Jim
June 22, 2024 at 5:03 pm
For every stupid action there is likely to be at least one stupid reaction, if not more. If you are the person starting something (the perp) you have given the option of the
reaction to the person you targeted. Yes, in this case, the reaction may be on the harsh side, but that’s how some people are.
Jeff
June 23, 2024 at 4:24 am
Agree 100O% with Daniel.