The Eden Prairie Police Department (EPPD) issued a warning to students and residents about the dangers of playing “Nerf Wars,” a game that has gained popularity among local high school students.
According to the police department’s Thursday blog post, the game, which is not school-sponsored or endorsed, involves forming teams and shooting each other with Nerf guns to eliminate competitors.
“While seemingly harmless, the game can become dangerous when participants make reckless choices,” the blog stated.
In the past three days, Eden Prairie police reported receiving at least 11 calls from concerned residents regarding the behavior of participants, including blocking cars in parking lots, impeding traffic, and dangerous driving.
Participants engrossed in a game of Nerf Wars often drive recklessly, forget to use seat belts, drive at dangerous speeds, and disregard traffic laws, the blog stated.
In recent years, police in the metro area have responded to numerous Nerf War-related calls, including motor vehicle accidents with injuries, property damage, suspicious activity, and disorderly conduct.
In 2015, two teenage boys died in a car crash in Lakeville while playing the game. In an interview on WCCO the following year, the boys’ mothers discussed the dangers of the game and the pain they had endured after losing their sons.
The following year in New Hope, students playing Nerf Wars caused a crash that injured two innocent bystanders. The students were involved in a high-speed chase when one driver crashed into the bystander’s car, forcing it off the road into a telephone pole. The second teen car fled the scene. Authorities charged the 17-year-old driver of the car with two felony counts of criminal vehicular operation.
For those participating in Nerf Wars, Eden Prairie police offer the following safety tips:
- Never play the game in or near a moving vehicle, whether as a driver or passenger.
- Use caution when playing on public property or in neighborhoods, and be respectful of others using public spaces.
- Stick to using brightly colored Nerf guns that are obviously not real firearms – never use replica guns in public places.
- If you encounter police while in possession of a Nerf-type gun, put it down immediately and follow the officers’ instructions.
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