Parents, students on high alert after threats made to Valley schools

PHOENIX (KSAZ) - Four Valley schools are on high alert this week after threats made against the schools were posted to social media.

The most recent threats were made against McClintock and South Mountain High Schools. The Phoenix Union High School District says a social media threat to South Mountain High School was discovered on Tuesday and a suspect has been identified.

Officials say the suspect is believed to be responsible for initiating multiple threats to Valley schools this week and the suspect is not a student in the school district.

Police believe the threat to McClintock High School is a hoax.

But on Monday, thousands of students stayed home from Mountain Pointe High School after a threat to the school was posted on Snapchat on Sunday night.

Those who attended class were asked to leave their backpacks at home. There was some confusion that a second threat was made against Mountain Pointe, but police say it actually was the first one being re-shared on social media, which caused some confusion.

On Tuesday, police in Maricopa were notified of a threat against Maricopa High School. Police cleared the campus overnight and had an increased presence at the school.

This all comes weeks after the FBI held a press conference warning students that these threats are not a joke, and making these threats comes with a serious penalty.

"We want to ensure that people understand this is also a federal crime and you could spend up to five years in prison for making a threat," a spokesman with the FBI said.

The FBI also says whoever makes the threat can get a hefty fine and have to pay for whatever it costs for the agency to respond.

On Wednesday, school will be in session at McClintock High School, as well as Mountain Pointe and Maricopa High Schools.

Students are asked to report any suspicious behavior at the schools.