PAULS VALLEY, Oklahoma — A high school principal was shot in the leg Tuesday afternoon after he and other staff members confronted a former student who entered Pauls Valley High School armed with a firearm, authorities said.
The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation identified the suspect as 20-year-old Victor Hawkins, a former student at the school. Hawkins was arrested at the scene and faces charges including shooting with intent to kill, according to the Garvin County Sheriff's Office and OSBI.
The incident occurred around 2:20 p.m. when Hawkins entered the school. Principal Kirk Moore, 60, and staff members quickly attempted to subdue him after noticing he was armed. During the confrontation, several rounds were fired and Moore was wounded in the leg. No students or other staff members were injured, officials said.
Moore was airlifted to OU Health in Oklahoma City, where he was reported in stable condition with non-life-threatening injuries. He has served as principal since 2021 and has worked in the Pauls Valley school district for more than 35 years in roles including teacher, assistant principal, athletic director and coach.
OSBI stated that the efforts of Moore and school staff "stopped Hawkins from potentially injuring other staff members and students."
Hawkins was booked into the Garvin County Jail on two counts of pointing a firearm, one count of shooting with intent to kill and two counts of unlawful carry. A possible motive for the incident was not immediately clear, authorities said.
The school was placed on lockdown following the shooting. Parents picked up students, and classes were canceled for the remainder of the day. Community members described Moore as a longtime local educator and credited him with preventing further harm.
As of early Wednesday, the OSBI continued to investigate the shooting. Details on the exact sequence of events, including how many shots were fired and the precise circumstances of the confrontation, remained under review. Hawkins had not yet been formally arraigned.
