In what could have been one of Oklahoma’s deadliest school shootings, a high school principal’s split-second decision to confront an armed intruder prevented a massacre at Pauls Valley High School. The April 7 incident, which involved a former student armed with stolen firearms who explicitly planned to emulate the Columbine shooting, was stopped by Principal Kirk Moore’s immediate action.
Armed intruder enters school with deadly intentions
Victor Lee Hawkins, a 20-year-old former student, arrived at Pauls Valley High School armed with two loaded semiautomatic pistols he had taken from his father’s closet. After driving his father’s truck to the campus, Hawkins entered the lobby and ordered everyone to the ground.
What happened next revealed a series of fortunate circumstances that prevented catastrophe. When Hawkins aimed at a student and pulled the trigger, the weapon malfunctioned and failed to fire. He retreated behind a vending machine to clear the jam before re-emerging and firing at another student—this time missing his target. Both students raised their hands and pleaded for their lives.
In an unexpected turn of events, Hawkins lowered his weapon and allowed the students to flee.
Principal takes immediate action
Security camera footage captured the moment Principal Kirk Moore entered through a door and, without hesitation, charged directly at the armed suspect. Moore tackled Hawkins from behind, forced him onto a bench, and wrestled one of the pistols from his grasp while maintaining control of the suspect.
The assistant principal quickly joined the effort, and together they restrained Hawkins until law enforcement arrived. During the physical confrontation, Hawkins managed to shoot Moore in the right leg.
Suspect reveals Columbine-inspired plan
According to investigators, Hawkins confessed during questioning that he “wanted to conduct his own school shooting like the Columbine shooters did” and had specifically targeted students, staff, Principal Moore, and planned to take his own life. He also told police he “did not like Principal Moore.”
Pauls Valley Police Chief Don May expressed no doubt about the outcome had Moore not intervened. “There’s not a doubt in my mind that he saved kids’ lives,” May stated.
Principal credits training and faith
After being released from the hospital, Moore issued a statement about the incident. “I am grateful that my instincts and training, as well as God’s hand, were available to me,” he said.
The series of events—including the initial weapon malfunction, the missed shot, the suspect’s decision to release the students, and Moore’s immediate response—represented multiple factors that prevented what could have been a devastating loss of life at the school.
