Valley Springs , California ( CNN ) -- Sheriff 's deputies on foot and in patrol cars made their presence known at a northern California school on Monday . Amid the stepped up security , classmates at Jenny Lind Elementary School carried flowers for Leila Fowler . Their parents held onto fear . `` I 'm scared for my kids , for the family , '' mother Wendy Converse said . `` It 's horrible . '' Fowler , an 8-year-old third-grader at the school , was stabbed to death at her home over the weekend . As police search for suspects , word of the killing has left many shaken in the community , which is about an hour outside of Sacramento . `` Leila was bubbly , she was vivacious , a great student . ... I do n't think I ever saw Leila without a smile on her face , '' Amy Hasselwander , the school 's principal , told CNN affiliate KCRA . `` Just a bright girl , just kind , compassionate , sincere to everyone . '' Converse said her son , Elijah , was friends with Leila . `` They sit together at school . It 's very sad , '' she said . `` Things like that do n't happen here . '' The girl died of shock and hemorrhages caused by multiple stab wounds , the Calaveras County Coroner 's Office said on Monday . Her mother said the family was still coming to grips with their loss . `` We are devastated , '' Crystal Walters , Leila 's mother , told CNN via Facebook correspondence early Monday . `` She did n't deserve this . ... She was so full of life . '' No suspect named . Police say Leila and her brother were home alone on Saturday when he saw an intruder leaving the house . He then found his sister stabbed and severely wounded . She died minutes after arriving at the hospital , authorities said . Since then , police have been running down leads but say they have no specific suspect . `` We 're searching extensively into attics and storage sheds . It is a difficult area to search -- it is rural , remote and the grass is tall right now , '' Calaveras County Sheriff 's Capt . Jim Macedo said . Authorities have combed the home and the neighborhood for evidence . `` We did collect fingerprints during that search , '' Macedo said , `` and we did collect what we believe to be DNA . Those prints and DNA will hopefully be processed within the next week . '' A neighborhood on edge . Word of the killing rattled many residents in the neighborhood . Michael Range , who lives near the Fowlers , said he heard about Leila 's deadly stabbing from a boy who lives nearby . `` I took my kids instantly and locked the doors , '' he said . `` It was scary . We 've been inside all weekend . '' Ryan Wydner , who lives across the street from the Fowlers , said the girl 's death left him feeling anxious . `` Anything 's really possible at this point , '' he said . `` What 's the difference between that guy going left and right and coming into my house ? I do n't know . '' While authorities said they had `` no specific suspect , '' they are looking for a white or Hispanic male with a muscular build , about 6 feet tall , wearing a black long-sleeved shirt and blue pants . He is considered to be armed and dangerous , the Sheriff 's Office said . Macedo said the boy who found his sister `` is not a suspect at this time , but we are continuing to talk to him , which would be normal because he was the last person with the child . '' Detectives continue to track down dozens of leads phoned into a tip line created Saturday , including some leading to other counties , he said . More than 100 members of the law enforcement community are working on this case , Macedo said . Nanny indicted on charges of stabbing two children to death . Georgia girl , 7 , died of head trauma , stabbing . CNN 's Paul Vercammen reported from Valley Springs , California . CNN 's Ed Payne reported from Atlanta . CNN 's Stephanie Elam , AnneClaire Stapleton and Jennifer Moore contributed to this report .
NEW : The sheriff 's office says that Fowler died after suffering multiple gunshot wounds . NEW : Amid stepping up security , students at her elementary school say they 're afraid . NEW : School principal : ` ` I do n't think I ever saw her without a smile on her face '' The girl 's brother ` ` is not a suspect at this time , '' a sheriff 's spokesman says .