Some take tweet as threat at Madera High School

MADERA, Calif. (KFSN) -- Madera police officers were around and on the campus of Madera High School on Monday, hoping to ease people's concerns about any threats to student safety.

A Thursday afternoon argument on Twitter between students over a school program called "Intervention," led to a tweet that some took as a threat.

"The perceived threat on Twitter was very ambiguous, it did not state an action, it did not state a location, date or time. It was four words, 'Watch what's gonna happen,'" said Superintendent Edward Gonzalez.

An intercom message to students on campus from the principal hoped to calm fears, while at the same time warn students about making statements that can be quickly misinterpreted.

"As of this point, we don't consider this a legitimate threat," said Gonzalez.

Still, once the weekend rolled around, the social media frenzy took to Facebook, with students talking about a possible shooting at Madera High on Monday.

The police department, which first dismissed the original tweet as an actual threat, was then forced to address parents and students. The police chief ultimately released a statement on its Facebook page that an investigation revealed no real threats of violence.

"I am a father first and a chief second, and there was no cause for me to keep my daughter out or anybody else's children out from school today," said Madera Police Chief Steve Frazier.

Still, just talk of violence on campus was enough to keep student Alejandro Martinez home from school.

"I thought it was pretty scary. This is Madera and like you never know what's going to happen at school," said Martinez.

All of the fears of violence kept a few hundred kids home from school on Monday. Officials say attendance was only at 64 percent.

Investigators are still trying to track down the person who sent the original tweet "Watch what's gonna happen." The tweet and user information has since been deleted.

If the student was really trying to disrupt school or make a threat, he or she could face disciplinary action from the school district or criminal charges.