The principal of an Oklahoma high school was shot in the leg April 7 after a man entered the campus and pointed a gun at students, according to video obtained by NBC News.
Kirk Moore, principal of Pauls Valley High School, can be seen emerging from a door, charging at the suspect, and tackling him while a nearby student flees to safety, according to the video. Moore managed to get the suspect, former student Victor Lee Hawkins, to drop his gun before another staff member enters the frame and grabs the weapon, the clip shows.
Hawkins, 20, allegedly entered the lobby of the high school with two semiautomatic handguns, according to an arrest affidavit cited by NBC News. He told everyone to hit the ground and allegedly attempted to shoot one student, but was unsuccessful due to his weapon malfunctioning. Two students purportedly begged for mercy and were allowed to leave, with other students following before Moore emerged from the door and charged at the suspect.
Hawkins allegedly admitted he “did not like” Moore and wanted to conduct his own Columbine-style school shooting, according to NBC News. In addition, the suspect allegedly admitted to taking two firearms that belonged to his father without permission and said he intended to kill Moore, students, other faculty members and himself, the outlet reported, citing the affidavit. (RELATED: ‘God Sent Me There’: Homeless Ex-Prisoner Saves Boy Allegedly Abandoned On Street)
Moore was shot in the leg when he confronted the suspect and is “healthy and recovering,” he said in an April 10 statement cited by NBC News.
Pauls Valley Police Chief Don May said Moore is a hero for stepping in and confronting the gunman.
“It doesn’t surprise me the actions that he took, but it is amazing, the actions that he took. There’s not a doubt in my mind that he saved kids’ lives,” May said, according to NBC News.
Hawkins has been booked into the Garvin County Jail and is due to appear in court on May 8, according to KOCO. He faces two counts of pointing a firearm, one count of shooting with intent to kill and two counts of unlawful carry.
Moore has worked for the school district for more than 35 years, according to the New York Post.