Fresno Unified officials say social media threat does not appear to be credible

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- Authorities across the county and here at home are responding to copycat threats as schools remain on high alert just days after a gunman fatally shot 17 people at a Florida school.

Extra officers were on the campuses of two Fresno Unified high schools Friday after a possible threat to the schools was found on social media late Thursday.

The image shows a firearm, with a caption, warning students at Edison and Sunnyside to not attend class Friday. A sobering reminder of this week's school shooting in Florida.

The Fresno Police Department investigated the post and determined it was not credible.

"People who make social media posts like that just need to get real on how that impacts the rest of the world," Fresno Unified School District Superintendent, Bob Nelson, said.

Along with the increased police presence, Nelson said class would proceed as scheduled district-wide. Parents received a call Friday morning confirming the threat was a hoax but many told Action News they were still concerned dropping off their kids for school.

Officers are currently investigating the origin of the post but believe the image of the weapon is an existing photo on the internet that someone added a caption to.

According to Fresno police, similar posts have turned up in other cities across the country.

Lt. Mark Hudson of the Fresno Police Department said, "We learned that Tulsa PD actually had this similar type picture posted in their city. So it's going on we've had these in the past and we've investigated these and if we find out that somebody says it was a prank we're still going to arrest you for making that criminal threat."