GODDARD, KS – A high school prank involving gel bead guns turned tragic last month in Kansas, leading to a teenager being shot with a real gun and resulting in paralysis from the waist down. According to newly filed court documents, police had to respond to the discharge of a firearm at a Walmart in Goddard, KS, on May 11.
On reaching the scene, the officers found Anakin Zehring, 18, suffering from gunshot wounds, including one that hit his spine and left him paralyzed.
An investigation disclosed that Zehring and two others were participating in a local “senior assassin” game- a social media-based challenge where high school seniors “target” their peers with water or gel-bead guns. These engagements are often filmed and posted on social media platforms.
Zehring and his companions allegedly shot at two other teens, a 17-year-old girl identified as S.C. and her boyfriend, G.B. This took place at a Walmart using a gel-bead gun.
The incident led S.C. to call her father, Ruben Marcus Contreras. Upon arriving, Contreras tracked down Zehring and his friends, drew a handgun, and allegedly shot at their car, hitting and seriously injuring Zehring.
Contreras was later charged with first-degree attempted murder and released from Sedgwick County Jail on bail. Meanwhile, Zehring’s family has initiated a GoFundMe campaign to aid the young man’s long journey towards recovery.