Heroic Principal Stops School Shooting, Crowned Prom King by Students
- A high school principal in Oklahoma has been celebrated by students as a hero after preventing a potential school shooting, leading to an unusual honor: being crowned prom...
- On April 17, 2026, students at Pauls Valley High School voted to name Principal Kirk Moore their prom king during the school's prom ceremony held in the same...
- According to law enforcement reports, the individual, identified as 20-year-old Victor Hawkins, told investigators he intended to carry out a school shooting similar to the Columbine attack.
A high school principal in Oklahoma has been celebrated by students as a hero after preventing a potential school shooting, leading to an unusual honor: being crowned prom king.
On April 17, 2026, students at Pauls Valley High School voted to name Principal Kirk Moore their prom king during the school’s prom ceremony held in the same building where he intervened to stop a shooting just ten days earlier. The recognition came as a direct response to his actions on April 7, when he confronted and subdued a former student who had entered the school armed with two pistols.
According to law enforcement reports, the individual, identified as 20-year-old Victor Hawkins, told investigators he intended to carry out a school shooting similar to the Columbine attack. Hawkins was taken into custody and now faces felony charges including shooting with intent to kill and pointing a firearm, along with misdemeanor counts for bringing a weapon into a public gathering.
Principal Moore was injured during the confrontation, sustaining a gunshot wound to the leg, but survived the incident. State officials have since praised his actions for preventing harm to students and staff.
In the aftermath, students expressed their gratitude through the prom king tradition, a gesture typically reserved for peers but adapted this year to honor Moore’s bravery. A video of the moment shows Moore receiving the crown to cheers and applause, with one organizer noting that the song “Hero” by Nickelback was played as he took his place.
The incident has drawn attention from national and international media, with outlets highlighting the rare occurrence of a school administrator being honored in such a personal and celebratory manner by students following a crisis.
The recognition at the prom served as both a tribute and a moment of healing for the school community, allowing students to collectively acknowledge the gravity of what was prevented and the role their principal played in ensuring their safety.