Crime & Safety

Dunwoody residents shocked by crime, still feel safe

Police ramp up security at preschool where shooting occurred

Thursday morning, 36-year-old Russell Sneiderman was shot and killed as he was getting into his vehicle after dropping off his child at Dunwoody Prep, a preschool in Dunwoody Village.

While the shooting shook up many in Dunwoody, it doesn't seem to have given people doubts about safety here.

 "I'm praying they'll find the person who did this," said Faye Sklar, of Dunwoody. "It's an evil thing to do, to drive up and shoot someone like that."

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While the brazen shooting was shocking, police told Patch that the crime did not appear to be random.

"It seemed like it was a professional hit from what the news reports were saying, so it was not random," said Katherine Soublis, who grew up in Dunwoody, but now lives in Athens. "It is unusual, but I wouldn't say I feel unsafe because of it."

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Enzo Vullo, of Dunwoody, agreed.

"It's a horrible thing. It's tragic," he said. "But those two people knew each other, somebody was settling a score. It's very sad, but that's the world we live in."

Police had a presence at the school throughout the day Friday.

Sklar was dropping by the Post Office across the street from Dunwoody Prep at midday; she had no worries about crime in Dunwoody.

"It doesn't affect my feeling about safety," she said, adding that she was sure the police were going to do their jobs well.

Sgt. Mike Carlson of the Dunwoody Police Department said residents should use the same amount of care at all times.

"We want them to still be very attentive and vigilant to their surroudings," he said. "And call 911 if they see anything suspicious."

Just a few doors down from the pre-school, David Bouseman, co-owner of David's Flowers, was still shaken up.

"I feel kind of shell-shocked," he said.

When he drove into work Friday morning he saw police squad cars sitting outside of Dunwoody Prep for safety precautions.

"It's very weird, it's just very weird," he said. "We've been here 24 years. You just lull into this sense of safety here."

"It just makes you realize this stuff can happen anywhere," Bouseman added.


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