The City of Alpharetta is requesting assistance from parents of Alpharetta high school students in stopping behavior that could endanger some students and other residents.
Over the weekend, the annual high school prank fest commonly known as the “Junior/Senior Wars” took a very dangerous turn, one that could end in serious injury or even the tragic end to a young life. The trend involves students who are wearing ski masks and carrying very realistic Airsoft-type rifles going in groups to homes or other locations where targeted students live to "attack" them. The Airsoft guns being used are nearly identical in appearance to actual firearms, as can be seen in the photo above.
In a world where images of home invasions and other attacks are all too commonly seen on television, it is no surprise that residents who saw students involved in this behavior called 911 to report armed home invasions or similar crimes in progress. Alpharetta police officers responded quickly to these calls and were prepared for encounters with armed and dangerous criminals.
Thankfully, due to the training and professionalism of our officers, no one was injured, but it is not hard to imagine how badly things might have turned out.
The Alpharetta Department of Public Safety is requesting the assistance of Alpharetta parents in putting a stop to this behavior. Please, talk to your kids about the dangers involved. If you have Airsoft-type guns in your home, make sure you know where they are, and do not let your kids out with them at night right now. Above all, please do not fall into the trap of thinking, “My son/daughter would never do something like that.”
The students involved are not bad kids coming from outside the community. They are Alpharetta kids who are just not thinking fully about their actions. Unfortunately, what to them seems like harmless fun could end in tragedy.
Thank you for your assistance.