FRESNO (KMJ) — A threat of gun violence targeting both Edison and Sunnyside High Schools does not appear to be credible, according to Fresno Unified School District.
District officials announced Thursday evening that they were aware of “alarming social media posts” depicting a threat to both campuses.
“We immediately contacted our Fresno Police officer partners, who immediately dispatched a special investigatory unit to validate the credibility of that threat,” detailed Superintendent Bob Nelson.
“We found out later that it was proven to be uncredible. The picture had actually been recycled from a previous incident of that nature.”
Both schools opened as normal Friday morning, but there was an increased police presence. Fresno Unified said approximately 850 of the 2500 students at Edison High School were reported absent.
“We take that stuff seriously. Any process that stops the educational process for any student. You don’t have a right to do that.”
.@fresnounified‘s Miguel Arias says the source of the shooting threat toward Edison and Sunnyside High Schools is yet to be traced. @FresnoPolice present on campus this morning. pic.twitter.com/24eEOH3fvT
— Dom McAndrew (@DomMcAndrew) February 16, 2018
The origin of the post is still being investigated and officials do not know who uploaded it. Superintendent Nelson had critical words for the person responsible for the threat, adding that if its a student then they would be held accountable to the greatest degree possible.
“People who make social media posts like that just need to get real about how that impacts the rest of the world. They think that that’s something clever or witty and don’t really think about the totality of the impact,” said Nelson.
“What we’re doing here is serious business. We’re in the business of educating kids.”
Hear the report from KMJ’s Dominic McAndrew as it aired:
