TikTok's "Senior Assassin" Prank Turns Tragic: Teen Paralyzed After Being Shot with Real Gun

A Kansas high school senior has been paralyzed from the waist down after being shot in a "senior assassin" prank involving gel bead guns. The shooting has sparked concerns about the dangerous trend on TikTok and led to the arrest of a man charged with attempted murder.

Anakin Zehring, an 18-year-old high school senior in Kansas, had his life forever altered on May 11th, 2023, when he was shot and paralyzed from the waist down in a "senior assassin" prank gone wrong. The incident has sent shockwaves through the community and raised concerns about the dangerous trend on TikTok.

The "senior assassin" game involves high school seniors targeting each other with water guns or gel-bead guns. Participants often record the "attacks" and post them on social media. The game has gained popularity on TikTok, but has also sparked controversy due to the potential for violence.

In Zehring's case, he and his friends were playing the game outside a Walmart when they shot at two other teenagers with a gel-bead gun. The incident escalated when the father of one of the targeted teenagers arrived and allegedly shot Zehring with a real gun.

Zehring was rushed to the hospital with severe injuries, including a gunshot wound to his back that hit his liver, kidney, and spinal cord. He underwent multiple surgeries and intense medical care, but the damage to his spinal cord has left him paralyzed from the waist down.

The suspect, Ruben Marcus Contreras, has been charged with first-degree attempted murder but has since been released from jail on bond. Contreras' attorney could not be reached for comment.

The shooting has raised concerns about the safety of the "senior assassin" prank and has prompted law enforcement to issue warnings about the potential for violence. Several schools have gone into lockdown due to concerns about the game, and parents are being urged to talk to their children about the dangers.

In a GoFundMe page created by Zehring's parents, they wrote: "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."

The GoFundMe page has raised over $100,000 to help cover Zehring's medical expenses and ongoing rehabilitation costs. His recovery journey is expected to be long and challenging, and his family is asking for continued support.

The incident has sparked a national discussion about the dangers of TikTok trends and the need for parents to monitor their children's online activities. Law enforcement and school officials are working together to prevent similar tragedies from occurring in the future.