Oklahoma principal shot in leg is praised for tackling school shooter: 'He is a hero'

An Oklahoma main who was changeable successful the limb portion tackling a schoolhouse shooter connected Tuesday was hailed a leader for stopping the gunman and preventing a worse tragedy, officials said.

Pauls Valley High School main Kirk Moore and different unit spotted the gunman, aboriginal identified arsenic 20-year-old erstwhile pupil Victor Hawkins, and instantly jumped into enactment to subdue him, according to the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation (OSBI).

"The main of the schoolhouse had noticed that an big antheral subject, 20 years old, had stepped ft into the schoolhouse with a gun," OSBI spokesperson Hunter McKee told KOCO-TV. "When the main noticed this, helium rapidly stepped in, arsenic good arsenic different staff. The taxable was capable to occurrence aggregate rounds, wherever the main was hurt, but nary 1 other was."

Moore was airlifted to a infirmary successful unchangeable condition, authorities said.

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Victor Hawkins, 20, was arrested successful transportation with the shooting astatine Pauls Valley High School successful Pauls Valley, Oklahoma, connected Tuesday, April 7, 2026. (Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation)

"The actions of the unit and the main stepping successful arsenic soon arsenic they saw a taxable with a firearm saved lives today," McKee told the outlet.

The shooting unfolded astir 2:21 p.m., according to authorities. The schoolhouse was placed connected lockdown until officers cleared the scene, and students were aboriginal reunited with their families.

Pauls Valley High School main Kirk Moore was the lone idiosyncratic injured during the shooting astatine Pauls Valley High School successful Pauls Valley, Oklahoma, connected Tuesday, April 7, 2026. (Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation)

Moore and different unit subdued the gunman until officers responded and arrested Hawkins.

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"I cognize the connection gets thrown astir rather a bit, but helium is simply a leader today," Pauls Valley Superintendent Brett Knight said of Moore portion speaking to reporters astatine the scene.

Officers responded to a shooting telephone astatine the schoolhouse astir 2:21 p.m. connected Tuesday, April, 7, 2026. (KOKH-TV)

Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt besides praised Moore successful a statement, saying that helium "acted bravely to support students’ lives."

"Sarah and I are praying for his speedy recovery," Stitt said. "I’m thankful for the swift effect from instrumentality enforcement and schoolhouse staff, and I’m grateful nary students were harmed."

A motive for the shooting was unclear, officials said.

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Hawkins was booked into the Garvin County Jail.

The 20-year-old was charged Wednesday with 1 number each of shooting with intent to termination and carrying a limb to a nationalist assembly, and 2 counts of feloniously pointing a firearm. His enslaved was acceptable astatine $1 million.