RI parents affected by Newtown tragedy

(WPRI) -- After the horrible events that took place in Newtown, Conn. Friday, Pres. Barack Obama suggested that all parents should "hug our children a little tighter."

Eyewitness News spoke with a few local parents of small children that were heartbroken when news of the school shooting broke.

• In-Depth Coverage: Connecticut School Shooting

"I was very upset, and I could only think, you know, 'what if it was here?'" said Johnston grandmother Carol Semedo. "I really feel for those people."

"I'm thinking, how do I keep him safe? I can't send him to the movies, the mall, school. What do you do?" asked Michelle Vento of Johnston.

As police work to pinpoint a motive in the shooting, many parents have been left wondering how someone could commit such an act.

"They have to be sick. Why would you want to hurt children?" said Semedo.

As for her grandchildren, Semedo said she will be heeding President Obama's advice.

"I'm going to hug them like nobody's business. I mean I really love them, and I just can't stand the though of what happened to those children," she said.

Parents at the Thornton School in Johnston said that the school was on lockdown this morning, though the school declined to comment.