On Tuesday, April 7, a former student of Pauls Valley high school in Oklahoma entered the school with firearms intending to kill.
A potential tragedy was narrowly avoided. According to NBC News, the former student, Victor Lee Hawkins, 20, armed with two semi-automatic pistols borrowed from his father, entered the high school that day with the intent to kill. Kirk Moore, the school’s principal, intervened.
On that same day, in the afternoon, Hawkins arrived at his former high school and ordered everyone to the ground in the hall, attempting to shoot a student. A malfunction prevented the gun from firing. A second attempt also failed.
Surveillance cameras captured the moment when Moore emerged from behind a door and subdued the attacker on a bench. With the help of the vice-principal, he managed to immobilize and disarm him. During the struggle, the principal was shot in the leg but is now recovering, as reported by NBC.
Local police chief Don May praised Moore’s actions, stating, “It’s not surprising that he reacted that way, but it’s still incredible. I have no doubt that he saved these children’s lives.”
The assailant confessed to investigators that he wanted to “commit his own school shooting like the shooters at Columbine,” referring to a shooting in 1999 at a Colorado high school that left 14 victims and two teenage perpetrators. Hawkins admitted he intended to target both students and teachers and is now facing charges of attempted murder.
In a statement, the principal expressed gratitude for his training and instincts, saying, “Like many teachers in the country, we prepare for these events through training and a thorough evaluation of threats. I am grateful for being able to rely on my instincts and training, as well as the hand of God.”
