A high school principal in Oklahoma is being credited with stopping a potential mass casualty incident after officials say a former student opened fire inside a school building before being subdued by staff during a confrontation.
Authorities said the rapid response by employees at Pauls Valley High School prevented students from being harmed.
Principal Kirk Moore was shot in the leg while confronting the armed suspect inside the school’s lobby on Tuesday afternoon.
Investigators said Moore and other staff members moved quickly toward the threat and engaged the gunman before additional shots could be directed at students.
The suspect, identified as 20-year-old former student Victor Hawkins, allegedly entered the building armed with multiple firearms believed to have been taken from his father.
Authorities said he began issuing commands for people to get on the ground, and at least one weapon initially malfunctioned before gunfire erupted.
Officials with the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation said Moore acted immediately once the situation escalated.
An OSBI spokesperson said school personnel confronted the suspect as shots were fired, with Moore sustaining an injury during the exchange.
Authorities said Moore and other staff members were able to restrain Hawkins inside the building before he could move further into the campus.
Officials confirmed that no students were injured during the incident, News 9 reported.
Law enforcement placed the school on lockdown as deputies secured the scene and cleared the building.
The suspect was taken into custody and later booked into the Garvin County Jail on charges including shooting with intent to kill and unlawful possession of a firearm.
Investigators said Hawkins later told authorities he intended to carry out a Columbine-style attack, targeting students and staff.
Court documents cited by local outlets indicate he expressed hostility toward Moore and referenced past mass school shootings during the planning phase.
Moore was transported by air ambulance to a hospital in Oklahoma City, where he remained in stable condition. Medical personnel confirmed the injury was not life-threatening, KOCO 5 News reported.
The incident drew widespread praise from officials and community members, many of whom credited Moore’s actions with preventing a more serious outcome.
School leaders described him as a steady presence who has long prioritized student safety.
“He was kinda the one that helped me when I was first hired,” Superintendent Dr. Brett Knight said, reflecting on Moore’s leadership within the district.
Pauls Valley Mayor Jocelyn Rushing also praised Moore’s actions, saying he has consistently shown a commitment to protecting students.
“He’s a fine man who loves the students and is willing to go out of his way to ensure their safety,” she said.
State officials, including Gov. Kevin Stitt (R), commended Moore’s response and the actions of first responders following the shooting, according to Fox News.
Classes were canceled in the aftermath of the incident, and counseling services were made available for students and staff. Officials said additional support resources will remain in place as the community continues to recover.
Authorities said the investigation remains ongoing as they continue reviewing how the suspect obtained the weapons and gained access to the school before the incident unfolded.
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