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Lockdown lifted at East End schools after shots fired reports

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RICHMOND, Va. (WTVR)-- Several Richmond schools were placed on lockdown as a precaution for about 20 minutes after reports of shots fired Friday afternoon.

1900 block of Phaup St.A call came in for shots fired at 1:23 p.m., in the 1900 block of Phaup Street.  The call was to report random gunfire.

Out of precaution, RPS issued a "Code Red" and Woodville Elementary, Fairfield Court Elementary and Armstrong High School were placed on lockdown.

Officers did not find anything when they arrived, but remained on the scene until around of 2:15 p.m.

The situation proved scary for two young students.

"We all ran back into the school and they said it was a code red," said one of the children who attends Fairfield Elementary. "Yeah, because the lights are off and stuff -- and we have to put our heads down."

Parents said the school system sent out a recorded message after they issued a "Code Red" for the schools.

When Cathy Wyatt heard that gunshots rang out in the middle of the day, just blocks away from her grandchildren's East End school, she was worried.

"I pray for all the kids around here. I mean, you can't go out here unless somebody doing something....," Wyatt said.

Residents were also worried about the gunfire.

"I was a little scared," said Shante Morton, who heard the noise, but never ventured out of her Fairfield Court apartment.

Martin Luther King Middle School was also placed on lockdown, but RPD spokesman Gene Lepley said officers did not find anything at that scene.