CENTRAL FALLS — Maida Lopez walked into the hallway at Central Falls High School yesterday searching the corridor for her daughters Hilda and Sandra. There were already about 40 parents near the main office, talking all at once and trying to find out where their children were so they could take them out of school before dismissal.

Two teenage boys had been killed in the city over the weekend and rumors were running rampant that there would be retaliation after school.

Sunday night, a 16-year-old Central Falls High School student who the police have not yet named was shot to death on Darling and Dexter streets. On Saturday, 19-year-old Helder Tomar, of Harvey Street in Pawtucket, was shot to death in Jenks Park in the afternoon. Anthony Strobert, 19, of Pacific Street — who was also shot and was being treated at Rhode Island Hospital — was charged with Tomar’s slaying. During a news conference yesterday at Central Falls police headquarters, Chief Joseph Moran said that the shootings may be related.

Students called or text messaged their parents to come get them out of school before dismissal. Parents poured into the high school’s hallway to sign in so they could take their children home. They spoke in Spanish and English about the shootings, shocked at the violence and fearful it would set back the school which had started the year with a new partnership with the University of Rhode Island and an aggressive plan to improve student achievement.

“My daughter called me. She said two people had been shot. Come and get me. They were thinking that when kids get out of school today there would be retaliation for the shootings,” Lopez said. “This has been a good school. They have been here since the ninth grade. This is the first time this happens. It makes me fear.”

Katherine Castrillon, 16, said that the day had started off sadly with students and teachers crying over the death of their classmate. Katherine said she was at lunch when people started telling her that she should leave the high school. “Everybody was leaving. A lady told me, ‘you better leave, you never know.’ It was scary to see all these parents in here afraid and looking for their children.”

Katherine said that rumors were going around school that people associated with those involved in the shooting had posted messages online saying that they planned to retaliate.

The Central Falls Police had officers all around the high school yesterday. Police officers stood at the entrances, on a porch of a nearby house that overlooks the high school, on a street corner that leads to the school. There were police at Jenks Park, where Tomar was shot. Chief Moran said that the city was receiving assistance from police departments in Pawtucket, Lincoln and Cumberland. Students were dismissed about a half hour early from school.

Supt. of Schools Frances Gallo said that the high school, Calcutt Middle School and Veterans Memorial Elementary School, which are all near each other, were placed on strong alert, which means that no one could enter the school without answering inquiries from the main officer and students’ activities were limited. Gallo said that she did this and later learned that some of the students in those schools were related to people who had been involved in the shootings.

The Police Department and School Department are working closely to keep the schools safe, share information and cull rumors, Gallo said. Moran and Gallo are calling on parents to be vigilant about who their children’s friends and acquaintances are, what they are doing and where they are hanging out.

Gallo said the high school will be open today and that parents should send their children to school. “Their safety is our first and foremost priority. The students are much safer in school than anywhere else. There are a lot of adults in the building. We keep the building locked. The kids can’t leave without a parent,” Gallo said.

While there has been no confirmation about the shootings being gang related, some students mentioned that there are gangs in the schools. Gallo said she has not been aware of gang activity or violence. “We are just at the cusp of seeing gangs that are going to take root. That has not been prevalent. We have been working with the Police Department and Pawtucket to make sure that signs of gangs and gang activity are not taking place in our high school.”

Sunday’s shooting was the third in five days. The first shooting occurred April 23. Someone in a gray sport-utility vehicle shot at a person while he rode his bike past a tax service business at the corner of Darling and Dexter. The man was unhurt. The police had not made any arrests.

In Saturday’s shooting, the police found Tomar shot near Fletcher Street in Jenks Park. While Cumberland police took Tomar to Rhode Island Hospital, the police received a report from Memorial Hospital of Rhode Island at 4:45 p.m. that another shooting victim, Strobert, had been brought to the hospital by friends and then taken to Rhode Island Hospital. Detectives said as best as they can determine from witnesses, both men were in the park fighting when Tomar pulled a handgun from his waistband and fired several shots. He and Strobert struggled for the gun. Strobert was struck by one bullet and Tomar was ultimately shot and killed by Strobert, according to Moran.

On Sunday, the 16-year-old Central Falls student was shot at around 11:25 p.m. while walking. Moran said he was not armed. The boy was taken to Rhode Island Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead. Moran said that the police are looking at whether the shootings are related. He asked that anyone with information call the police tip line at (401) 727-7420.

tpina@projo.com