UPDATE (9:40 p.m.) - In a press release, Santa Maria police say they were contacted by a concerned parent regarding a possible threat directed towards "school-aged children," but did not reference any specific school.
According to police, the reporting party shared a social media post with officers where "a male juvenile held an item in a similar fashion to a rifle while urging people not to attend school the following day."
Officials say a concerned parent called police and told them their child was responsible for the post. SMPD contacted the 13-year-old and confirmed he was the one pictured in the social media post.
SMPD says officers confirmed the item in the picture was not a firearm and that the juvenile did not have intent to harm people or carry out acts of violence. The teen additionally did not have access to firearms, according to authorities.
The principal of Fesler Junior high School, Mark Palmerston, sent an email to parents regarding the potential threat of violence at the school.
In the email, Palmerston says in part that the school, with the help of police, "identified the students involved and the situation has been resolved."
He then goes on to say that parents and students can expect additional district staff on campus Monday to "support school safety."
Palmerston reassured recipients of the email that the school's number one priority is student and staff safety and that the school "took this situation seriously."
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ORIGINAL STORY (7:29 p.m.) - The Santa Maria Police Department says it is investigating potential school threats made against Fesler Junior High School.
Officers say they are still in the early phases of their investigation into possibly threatening photos posted on social media.
The department said investigators are still uncertain about the validity of the claims.
This is a developing story, check back later for more details.
