Fresno online school threats recirculate, how officials after handling surge of scares

FRESNO, Calif. ( KSEE/KGPE ) – Online school threats are recirculating on social media officials are taking action.

Tuesday the Fresno Police Department said the posts were investigated and there is no credible threat to the school district.

As a precaution, Fresno police increased their presence on campuses across the district.

Fresno Officer Luke Tran said they take each and every post seriously and students who make these threats will face real consequences.

“Not only can it lead to suspension, expulsion, but it can also lead to jail time,” Tran added.

Last week Fresno Unified School District received two school threats, which were made on social media.

A 13-year-old was arrested for making threats to Scandinavian Middle Schoo l and another student was cited for a misdemeanor after Ahwahnee Middle School received three threatening calls about a gun on campus.

“If there are these threats, that are circulating throughout social media and the various platforms, we advise not to share it, and instead of sharing it, call the PD, call the police department, and report it to us so that we can investigate it,” Tran shared.

In Tulare County, two schools received threats in the past two weeks.

A 16-year-old was arrested after the Tulare Sheriff’s Office was notified by the FBI regarding a social media post that someone at a local high school would be killed.

In another incident, a 13-year-old boy was taken into custody and placed at the Juvenile Detention Facility for making threats to Strathmore Middle School .

“Making any sort of threat, a school threat, a school shooting, any jokes about firearms will not be taken lightly by law enforcement in Tulare County, nor will be by the district attorney’s office,” said Jessica Weatherly, Tulare’s Chief Deputy District Attorney.

Weatherly said they review police evidence to decide on a prosecution, regardless of the individual’s age.

“If a juvenile claims later that he was joking or that he thought it was a joke, that’s something that we really look into the totality of the circumstances,” Weatherly added.

While juvenile cases are handled differently from adult cases, Weatherly said individuals with a criminal background could face up to three years in prison for making a school threat.

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