A staged kidnapping prank by members of the Westhill High School boys' varsity lacrosse team led to 11 players facing criminal charges, bringing national attention to the Syracuse, New York community. The prank, intended as a joke, spiraled out of control when one younger teammate was abducted, tied up, and put in a trunk, as others dressed in black pretended to be armed kidnappers. The incident, which was captured on video, resulted in the team’s lacrosse season being canceled and sparked a significant community and school district response. Despite the families of those involved opposing criminal charges, the district attorney proceeded with unlawful imprisonment charges, offering a 48-hour amnesty deal for the students to turn themselves in. The community is now grappling with the fallout, seeking to address the underlying team culture issues and ensuring such incidents do not define the town or its programs.

During an overtime lacrosse game between two rival teams, Westhill High School's varsity lacrosse players planned a prank involving a staged kidnapping of younger teammates, which ended with one player being abducted and traumatized.

The prank involved dressing in black and pretending to be kidnappers with what appeared to be weapons, leading to the abduction of one player who was tied up and placed in a car trunk, while others managed to escape.

The incident was filmed, and the video circulated among students, leading to an investigation by the sheriff’s office after the school resource officer reported it, resulting in misdemeanor charges of unlawful imprisonment against 11 students.

Community members and families of the involved students expressed shock and discomfort with the incident's portrayal and the decision to press charges, with many feeling the prank was mischaracterized and that the students should not face severe legal consequences.

The district attorney's office offered an amnesty deal to avoid felony charges, and all suspects turned themselves in. The school district canceled the remainder of the lacrosse season and began addressing the need for a cultural reset within the team.

The community, known for its close-knit nature, is contending with the incident's impact on its reputation and is focused on healing and learning from the situation, emphasizing the need for young people to grow and learn from their mistakes.

The head coach affirmed his commitment to integrity and support for the team, cooperating fully with the investigation, while the arrested students faced public harassment and began school suspension hearings.