Thousands of students were on lockdown for hours when gunfire erupted in Jersey City on Tuesday.

Students at Academy 1 Middle School were just two blocks away from the kosher grocery store where the fatal shooting took place.

"It was still really scary but they kept you calm the entire time," one student said.

Mayor Steven Fulop met with students at the middle school and P.S. 29 to put children's fears at ease.

"I just want to say thank you to you guys," Fulop told the students. "It was really a tough day."

Fulop and other city leaders plan to visit a number of city schools in the days to come.