Hilltown Township Police have issued a warning to Pennridge High School seniors and their parents of the potential dangers and mistaken bad intentions in playing the game “Jackal.”
They are not talking about the awesome 1986 Konami Nintendo Entertainment System video game shoot ‘em up, but rather an extreme game of tag or manhunt played with water guns, where the prize is a cache of money totaling $1,000 or more.
“We have been informed that the JACKAL game is once again being played by Pennridge High School graduating seniors,” posted the police on its Facebook Wednesday evening. “While we recognize that this game is a tradition, we want to strongly discourage participation and stress extreme caution for those that decide to participate. This is not a sanctioned activity by the Pennridge School District.”
According to a 2019 article in “The Penndulum,” Pennridge High School’s student news site, Jackal is a game where two seniors partner up on a team to eliminate their targets by shooting them with water pistols, while avoiding being shot as well. Seniors cannot be shot at work, school, at after school activities, or at a place of worship, according to the article.
Participants enter the game at $20 per team, according to the article.
“This game gets very intense with lots of car chases, foot pursuits, and camping out early in the morning waiting for your target to leave for school,” wrote Hayden Maltby in article.
Police said that area departments in past years have responded to calls of armed subjects, burglaries in progress, stalking, reckless driving and suspicious persons, which were discovered by officers to be participants of the Jackal game.
“If you choose to play,” said police, “know that you may have contact with police because of bystanders contacting authorities. If the police have a report that a person is armed, we will respond accordingly which places the public, the police officers and game participants at risk.”
Police said participants risk being criminally charged for property damage and injury – or worse. Playing the game does not entitle people to violate the law, police said.
“In addition,” police said, “if you refuse to take our advice not to participate, please respect the privacy and property of other citizens and conduct yourself in a responsible and safe manner.”
According to Maltby’s article, thrill and excitement builds closer to graduation “as seniors are getting ready by picking partners and coming up with strategies on how to get through each round.”
Maltby wrote that seniors get tips from older siblings on how to play the game. Back in 2019, the game was hosted by then-senior Justin DeFrancisco, according to the article. DeFrancisco told his school newspaper that he had to make sure he was not liable for anything that happens during the game. As host, he also had to collect registration money, write rules, provide working water guns, send out target assignments, and settle disputes over people being shot or not, according to the article.
“We want you to have fun as you prepare to leave high school and enter the next phase of your life,” wrote Hilltown Township Police, “but we also want you not to regret a decision that can have a lasting impact.”
Pennridge High School alumni and parents took to the comments on the Facebook post to speak up mostly in favor of the event. A few others who graduated in the early-2000s do not remember the game at all.
Michele Arenas, of Chalfont, was surprised to find the game is still being played.
“Glad to see a fun tradition continue as long as everyone use their judgement and doesn’t take it to the extreme,” she wrote. “Thanks for the Hilltown PD for keeping an eye on the community and stopping any reckless behavior.”
Grace Saunders was concerned that reckless and lawless activities have occurred over the course of the game.
“Hope unintended consequences don’t occur. Be smart,” she wrote.
Carla DeMaio Anderson witnessed seniors playing Jackal last year, and wrote they looked like they were having a blast doing it.
“They were also very reckless with driving and it was dangerous,” Anderson wrote under the Facebook post. “Should they give up the tradition? No way! Should the warning of being safe be reminded and out there? Absolutely … I wouldn’t stop my child if she wanted to do it, but a reminder of certain consequences is sometimes needed. Be appreciative that the police even cared enough to say something.”
See also:
Police Warn of Local Students Playing ‘Assassin’ Game
Lansdale Police Warn Residents About ’Suspicious’ Seed Packets, Unsolicited Jewelry from Overseas
Police Warn of Tax, Police Association Scams
Souderton Police Warn of Phone Spoofing Scam
Hilltown Police Issue Warning About Traveling Contractors, Driveway Paving Fraud
