Hero Principal Tackles Gunman at Oklahoma High School
- Kirk Moore, the principal of Pauls Valley High School in Pauls Valley, Oklahoma, was hailed as a hero after tackling an armed gunman on April 7, 2026.
- According to the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation (OSBI), the gunman fired multiple rounds during the encounter.
- Following the shooting, Moore was airlifted to a hospital in stable condition.
Kirk Moore, the principal of Pauls Valley High School in Pauls Valley, Oklahoma, was hailed as a hero after tackling an armed gunman on April 7, 2026. Moore and other staff members intervened when they spotted a 20-year-old former student, identified as Victor Hawkins, entering the school with a firearm.
The incident occurred at approximately 2:21 p.m. According to the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation (OSBI), the gunman fired multiple rounds during the encounter. Moore was shot in the leg while subduing the suspect, but no other individuals were injured.
Following the shooting, Moore was airlifted to a hospital in stable condition. He and other staff members were able to subdue Hawkins until law enforcement officers arrived on the scene and placed him under arrest.
Emergency Response and School Security
The school was placed on lockdown immediately following the shooting. The lockdown remained in effect until officers cleared the scene, after which students were reunited with their families.
Officials from the OSBI and the Garvin County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that the principal’s quick actions in the school’s lobby prevented a more severe tragedy.
Hunter McKee, OSBI spokesperson
The actions of the staff and the principal stepping in as soon as they saw a subject with a firearm saved lives today
The event was captured on surveillance video, which shows the moment Moore took down the gunman inside the building.