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Elementary School Locked Down After Man Shot Dead Nearby, Officials Say

By  Trevor Kapp and Eddie Small | May 21, 2014 12:25pm | Updated on May 21, 2014 2:32pm

 A man was gunned down near P.S. 112 Bronxwood on East 229th Street, police said.
A man was gunned down near P.S. 112 Bronxwood on East 229th Street, police said.
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DNAinfo/Trevor Kapp

EDENWALD — A Bronx elementary school was locked down Wednesday morning after a gunman unleashed a flurry of bullets right outside the building, killing a man, officials said.

The broad daylight shooting unfolded shortly before 9 a.m. outside P.S. 112 Bronxwood on East 229th Street at Schieffelin Avenue and sparked fear among students and parents there.

The shooting also came as the 47th Precinct had seen a dramatic increase in shootings — up 91 percent so far this year from 11 to 21, according to NYPD data.

Lamont Smith of Yonkers, the 45-year-old victim, was on the corner of East 229th Street near Schieffelin Avenue when the alleged shooter, Dwayne Reid, 43, of Larchmont got out of a car and fired at him twice, police said. The shooter returned to his car, but came back a short time later firing at the victim again.

The shooter than took off driving in an unknown direction, according to police.

The victim was struck in the head and pronounced dead, according to the NYPD.

In the wake of the gunplay, the school stopped letting people in and out of the building, known as "Shelter-in," according to the Department of Education. A formal lockdown would have been conducted by police.

Reid was charged with murder, manslaughter, assault, aggravated manslaughter and criminal possession of a weapon.

No students were harmed, but the violence left parents shocked.

Maria Valenzuela, whose son is in second grade at Bronxwood, said she was stunned to hear the news.

"It's scary. It's surprising," she said. "I'm very worried that it was in front of the school. I just want my son to be safe."

PTA member Ceevah Coleman was distressed as well.

"It's upsetting. It's disturbing," she said. "Thank God the kids weren't outside. At least they were inside and safe."