A disturbing event unfolded last month at a Goddard Walmart in Kansas, where a playful “senior assassin” prank turned tragic and left a teenager paralyzed from the waist down after being shot with a real gun. According to a recently filed affidavit, 18-year-old Anakin Zehring was struck by a bullet that hit his liver, kidney, and spinal cord, causing permanent paralysis.
The incident occurred on May 11, when Sedgwick Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to reports of a shooting outside the Walmart just before 5 p.m. Zehring’s parents detailed the severity of his injuries on a GoFundMe page, describing the bullet wound that punctured his duodenum and led to spinal cord damage. Despite undergoing multiple surgeries and medical care, Zehring faces a long road to recovery, and his family has reached out for support.
“On May 11th, our lives changed forever when my son was involved in the tragic incident at the Goddard Walmart shooting,” his parents wrote on the GoFundMe page. “He sustained severe injuries, including a bullet wound that punctured his duodenum (upper part of the small intestine) and damaged his spinal cord, causing loss of sensation from the waist down. Despite undergoing four surgeries and intense medical care, his recovery journey is just beginning, and we need your help.” – Anakin Zehring’s parent’s GoFundMe
Zehring was accompanied by a 16-year-old and 17-year-old in the vehicle during the prank gone wrong. The friends were participating in a version of the popular “senior assassin” game, involving water guns and gel-bead guns, which is typically shared on social media. In this instance, the game took a dangerous turn, leading to the tragic outcome.
Following the shooting, authorities apprehended two teenage witnesses who were present during the incident. The sequence of events revealed that Zehring and his friends allegedly targeted two other juveniles, resulting in a confrontation that escalated when one of the victim’s fathers, Ruben Marcus Contreras, intervened.
Contreras, now facing first-degree attempted murder charges, allegedly fired a handgun into the vehicle occupied by Zehring and his friends. The chaos was reportedly preceded by taunting phrases exchanged between the teenagers and bystanders, eventually culminating in the life-altering injury suffered by Zehring.
The aftermath of the shooting saw a Walmart employee overhearing the verbal exchange moments before the trigger was pulled. Actions taken by the teenagers, as well as Contreras’ response, painted a picture of escalating tensions that ended in tragedy.
As the investigation into this harrowing incident continues, the community is left reeling from the consequences of a simple prank gone horribly wrong. The ramifications of this incident serve as a cautionary tale, highlighting the devastating impact of thoughtless actions and the importance of exercising responsibility in all situations.