Surveillance footage from Pauls Valley High School in Oklahoma has captured a remarkable act of bravery principal Kirk Moore charging directly at an armed intruder and helping to disarm him just moments after the gunman stepped inside the building on April 7.
The video, which has only recently come to light, shows the tense confrontation unfold in real time. According to authorities, the suspect 20-year-old Victor Hawkins, a former student at the school walked into the lobby armed with two loaded pistols and immediately aimed his weapon at two students standing nearby.
Within seconds, Moore emerged from his office and rushed toward Hawkins, tackling him to the ground. A second staff member then stepped in to help remove the weapon from the gunman’s hands.
The struggle was not without cost. During the confrontation, Hawkins managed to fire multiple rounds, one of which struck Moore in the leg. Remarkably, despite the chaos and the gunfire, not a single student was harmed.
Principal Kirk Moore of Pauls Valley High School in Oklahoma tackling a would be school shooter.
— CJ Jolley (@cjjolley) April 14, 2026
An amazing display of courage in the heat of the moment. pic.twitter.com/Be0mNEqs6x
Moore was rushed to hospital and treated for his injuries. He was listed in stable condition and is expected to make a full recovery. In the days that followed, he has been widely celebrated as a hero.
Hawkins was taken into custody and now faces serious criminal charges, including feloniously pointing a firearm, shooting with intent to kill, and carrying a weapon into a public assembly. He is scheduled to appear in court on May 8.
The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation (OSBI) was unequivocal in its praise for the school staff’s swift response, suggesting it likely prevented the incident from becoming far more deadly. “The actions of the staff and the principal stepping in as soon as they saw a subject with a firearm saved lives,” said OSBI spokesman Hunter McKee.
Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt also weighed in, commending Moore’s extraordinary courage and extending his wishes for a speedy recovery.
