"The Knockout Game" at Hamden High?

A 15-year-old Hamden High School student is facing assault charges after he allegedly approached another student who he apparently didn't know and punched him and told police it was a game.

The incident happened on Friday, when Hamden Police Officer Scott Jason, who is assigned as the School Resource Officer at Hamden High School, was approached by a frantic teacher who wanted to report an assault involving two students, according to police spokesman Capt. Ronald Smith.

"[The]investigation revealed that a male student, who is a senior, was walking in the hallway when another student ran towards him and punched him under the eye," Smith said in a release Wednesday. 

"The victim advised police that he didn’t know the individual who assaulted him and that he had never exchanged words with him. The victim suffered an eye injury.

"Moments later, officers met with the individual responsible for the assault, a 15 year-old student. Further investigation revealed that the 15 year-old stated that 'it’s a game he and his friends play.'"

The 15-year-old Hamden resident was charged with third-degree assault He is scheduled to appear in Juvenile Court in New Haven on Dec. 9.