Between 200 and 300 students were given permission to leave class to attend counseling sessions throughout the day, said Ed Surman, one of the school's three counselors. The Lake Elsinore Unified School District sent additional counselors from other schools to the 1,600-student campus. As many as eight counselors were on duty throughout the day.

"There are some kids going about business as usual, but the majority of the kids are shook up," said Jeff Hickok, a physical education teacher. "There was a lot of grief on campus."

Eighth-grader Michael Dwyer, 13, was on his bicycle when he was hit by a Lake Elsinore man driving east on Riverside Drive near the campus in a 1987 Ford Taurus. Michael died at the scene shortly after 6:30 p.m.

Police released the driver, Jose Ortiz, 36, without citing him. An investigation continues.

Earlier in the day, at about 12:50 p.m., physical education teacher Dannette Razukas was shaken but not seriously injured when she was hit twice by pellets that police believe were shot from a house across the street from the school.

Razukas, 33, along with another physical education teacher, were supervising about 200 students on the school's playgrounds at the time of the incident.

Immediately after the shooting, school officials implemented a campus lockdown for the remainder of the school day.

Lake Elsinore police arrested two suspects in connection with the pellet gun shooting at a house in the 800 block of Alameda Street. Robert Crown, 18, of Lake Elsinore and Jack Hofer, 19, of Perris were booked into the Southwest Detention Center in Temecula on suspicion of assault, authorities said.

By noon Friday more than a dozen students who were unable to focus on schoolwork were sent home with parents, Surman said. Students reacted in various ways to the incidents and those who were closest to Michael were given immediate attention, he said.

Surman said the most visible sign of distress displayed by some students was disorientation.

"It's amazing how the students tied the two incidents together," Surman said. "The kids felt vulnerable."

Principal Mike Sepulveda made a morning announcement to students and staff members informing them of Michael's death and the availability of counselors.

"The death of the student hit much harder, but going through a live lockdown was also difficult," Sepulveda said.

School officials said that the additional counselors available on Friday could be called back to campus if necessary next week.

Reach Alex Murashko at (909) 587-3138 or amurashko@pe.com

EASING WORRIES

For additional information to help deal with traumatized children, contact:

· Your child's school counseling service.

· Riverside County Department of Mental Health in Temecula (909) 600-6355