Officials respond to threats of violence at Central Valley schools

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- Just days after the deadly mass shooting in Parkland, Florida, a threat against two Fresno area high schools turned up on social media.

Even though the threat of violence at Sunnyside and Edison high schools turned out to be a hoax, it was not a laughing matter for the police and school officials.

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

Miguel Arias with the Fresno Unified School District says when students get a break from school some of them get into trouble and social media is making that easier to happen.

"As we get into these long holiday weekend breaks parents should really make it a point to have a conversation with their students about what they are doing online. And whether or not their classmates are expressing any concerns that should be brought to our attention," Arias said.

When that does happen, Fresno Unified is ready to respond with psychologists, counselors and social workers to make sure that student receives all the support services they need.

Fresno police still have not identified the source or made an arrest on the social media threat that turned up online Thursday night.

"Sometimes we arrest people and they feel it is a joke or they didn't mean anything by it but it is very, very harmful. It causes a lot of fear in the community," Joe Gomez of the Fresno Police Department said.

According to Fresno Unified, that fear caused over 1,700 students to miss class on Friday. Both Fresno police and Fresno Unified encourage parents to stay connected with their children and report any threat immediately to officials.