PORTAGE — An 18-year-old Portage man is facing a felony charge after police say he caused panic while carrying what appeared to be a firearm outside a local gym Friday afternoon.

According to court documents, the incident occurred April 10, 2026, at approximately 1:19 p.m. at a Planet Fitness in the 6200 block of U.S. Highway 6. Officers were dispatched after a report of a male with a firearm.

As officers arrived, dispatch advised the suspect was attempting to leave the parking lot in a black Kia Optima. Police ordered the individual to the ground at gunpoint. He complied and was taken into custody without further incident. He was identified as Adrian R. Williams, 18, of Portage.

Investigators say an object resembling a firearm was located on the passenger seat of the vehicle. It was later identified as an opaque gray water pistol equipped with a drum-style magazine, which police say appeared realistic from a distance.

A witness told police they observed Williams pacing in front of the business while holding what appeared to be a handgun and talking on a cellphone. The witness reported that Williams repeatedly tucked and untucked the object from his waistband and at one point stood near the entrance as if waiting for someone to exit.

The witness stated they feared for their safety and believed a shooting could occur, prompting the call to police.

This incident resulted in all ten on-duty PPD patrol officers, two off-duty PPD officers, and one on-duty Porter County Sheriff’s Deputy responding to the scene. These officers responded with their emergency lights and sirens activated, from across the city as they believed this was an imminent active shooter situation. This emergency response put the officers and the community at unnecessary risk as well as delayed responses to three other calls for service occurring simultaneously in the city.

Officers were aware that the Senior Assassin game was being played, but since this 911 call occurred during school hours, they had even more reason to believe this event was a genuine emergency. It is unknown why the suspect and his intended target were not in school as this occurred prior to dismissal.

A patrol supervisor contacted the Porter County Prosecutor’s office and briefed them on the situation. A Deputy Prosecutor authorized the charge of felony Intimidation, and Mr. Williams was transported to the Porter County Jail.

Williams has since been formally charged with Intimidation, a Level 6 Felony, according to records filed April 13, 2026.

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Mother: “This Was A School Game”

Following the incident, Williams’ mother contacted Region News Source, stating her son was participating in a senior tradition known as “Senior Assassin,” a game commonly played among graduating high school students.

“My senior was just arrested for playing senior assassin, a game supported by the high school,” she said. “This game that is supposed to be fun between seniors had my son arrested at gunpoint in the Portage Planet Fitness parking lot.”

She described her son as a “star football player” and “honor roll student” who had no prior trouble history, adding that the situation has had a lasting emotional impact.

“He is now traumatized due to the incompetence of the Portage Police Department,” she stated. “It was communicated by multiple sources that this is a well-known game. Officers also acknowledged it was a game.”

She further emphasized that the item involved was a water gun.

“It was recognized that the gun used was a water gun, and they are still charging him with a felony,” she said. “This whole situation is completely unfair to my freshly 18-year-old kid.”

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Ongoing Considerations

While “Senior Assassin” is widely known in many school districts, law enforcement agencies across the country have increasingly warned that realistic-looking toy guns, especially in public spaces, can prompt emergency responses due to the inability to distinguish them from real firearms.

Portage Police released a statement saying, “We understand that this game has been played by high school seniors in our area for a few years and this appears to have become a tradition. Unfortunately, we have previously had to respond to reports of Reckless Driving, Road Rage, and Carjacking, which were also associated with this game.”

“We have also viewed several online videos of our PHS seniors engaging in this game using brightly colored water guns that do not give the appearance of actual firearms, did not involve reckless driving or other dangerous behavior, that resulted in only creating great memories. Unfortunately, there are outliers who have caused fear and panic to our community by their actions. It is ultimately the duty of the young adults who engage in this game to conduct themselves in a safe, lawful manner that does not cause fear and panic within our community.”

The case will proceed through the court system, where all charges are merely allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.