EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. – Police in Eden Prairie have issued a warning after receiving multiple calls about students playing “Nerf Wars.”
Police say students at Eden Prairie High School have been playing the game, which involves forming teams and shooting each other with Nerf guns to eliminate competitors.
Police say the game can become dangerous if those playing it make reckless choices.
Police have received at least 11 calls from residents concerned about students playing the game. Some of those reports include players blocking cars in parking lots, obstructing traffic and being a dangerous driver.
“Participants engrossed in a game of Nerf Wars often find themselves driving recklessly, forgetting to use their seat belts, driving at dangerous speeds and ignoring traffic rules,” police said in a news release. “In recent years, police in the metro area have responded to numerous calls related to the Nerf War, including car accidents involving injuries, property damage, suspicious activity and disorderly conduct.”
Nine years ago, two teenage boys died in a crash in Lakeville while playing the game. A year later, two bystanders were injured in New Hope after students playing the game caused a crash.
The Eden Prairie Police Department released a list of safety tips for those participating in the game:
- Never play the game in or near a moving vehicle, whether as a driver or a 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 clearly 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.
Eden Prairie is located about 17 miles southwest of Minneapolis.
