The Daily Populous Thursday April 17th, 2025 night edition
Authored by wsfa.com and submitted by Sandstorm400

SAUK RAPIDS, Minn. (WCCO) – A 16-year-old boy from central Minnesota is recovering after police say he was run over by a friend’s car.

The Sauk Rapids Police Department says the teens were playing the popular “Nerf Wars” game on Saturday afternoon in nearby Rice.

With each spring, comes an annual tradition.

Ayanna Churcher, a senior at Roseville Area High School, will be playing senior assassin in this year’s Nerf Wars.

It’s a game played across the country; teams use toy Nerf guns to shoot each other out until only one group is left to win a cash prize.

“I’ve been watching it the past three years,” Churcher said. “I’m so excited to play!”

Schools are not involved in organizing Nerf Wars. The game is completely student-run with the prizes coming from pooled money. The rules are made and enforced by the players.

“You can’t be killed at school, you can’t be killed in a vehicle, moving or standstill. Just no cars allowed,” Churcher described.

Still, every year, law enforcement agencies issue warnings about the risks involved.

From speeding vehicles to trespassing and confused 911 calls from neighbors, some agencies recommend students don’t play at all.

The Stearns County Sheriff’s Office says for those who are playing, don’t trespass on other peoples’ properties, use brightly-colored water or Nerf guns that are clearly toys, avoid hiding in dark areas or carrying anything that could look like a real weapon, skip dark clothing or camouflage and masks that could cause confusion, and do not run or hide if law enforcement is seen.

“On TikTok, you see people hiding in peoples’ cars and you get them,” Alondra lagunas said.

lagunas is a sophomore at Apple Valley High School.

“Me and my friends already made a plan for us and our team once we get to our senior year,” lagunas remarked.

Churcher says her friend group helped organize this year’s game, and they’re committed to playing safely and responsibly.

“Someone is always not going to like teenagers playing games, but I think the tradition should keep going because it’s just fun,” Churcher added.

Sauk Rapids police say some of the activities in the Nerf Wars could be considered, at minimum, a crime of disorderly conduct.

They are asking parents to encourage their children to stop playing.

Copyright 2025 WCCO via CNN Newsource. All rights reserved.

BlueRaith on April 16th, 2025 at 22:55 UTC »

The article and video didn't have any details or mention of the teenager run over. Only the title references it, everything else is just a summary of what Nerf Wars is and mostly just talking with students who of course enjoy the game.

Here is a video that gives a few more details, such as the boy is 16, was run over on his midsection and broke some bones, but it's expected to recover. Though this one only speaks with law enforcement and city officials who are of course very negative about the game as they reference past deaths from 2015.

Terrible journalism all around, ideally each outlet should have spoken to both groups and given the details about the boy from the second video. Game has obviously gotten out of hand, but kids are kids and they always assume either they won't be the problematic players or won't run into problematic players.

shadowylurking on April 16th, 2025 at 19:45 UTC »

this is why we can't have nice things

whatwhynoplease on April 16th, 2025 at 18:34 UTC »

the nerf wars and assassin game has really caused a lot of issues around my area. one year they threatened to arrest anybody participating because someone died the year before.

I played it back in the day and it was fun but some kids take it waaay too far. they sometimes chase each other down in their cars and will attempt to shoot nerf guns at each other going 50+ mph down a neighborhood street. I don't remember anybody going that far when we played.

kids really do think they are invincible and it takes a millisecond to discover you're not.