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Moments later, another staff member rushed into the lobby and intervened, kicking the dropped weapon away from the suspect. Together, the principal and staff member were able to restrain Hawkins until law enforcement arrived and took control of the scene. Officials say Moore was the only person physically injured during the encounter, but they also credit the quick response of school personnel with preventing a far worse tragedy.
Hunter McKee of the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation praised the actions of those who stepped in without hesitation. He emphasized that the response likely saved multiple lives given the speed and intent of the alleged attack. “The actions of the staff and the principal stepping in as soon as they saw a subject with a firearm saved lives today,” McKee said.
Court records cited by KFOR outline disturbing allegations regarding Hawkins’ intent. According to investigators, Hawkins reportedly admitted that he “didn’t like Principal Moore” and “went to the school to kill” him. Authorities also say he ordered people inside the building to get on the ground and attempted to fire at a student in the lobby, but the weapon malfunctioned. In the confusion that followed, a second student was allegedly targeted as the child pleaded for their life, moments before Moore arrived at the scene.
Investigators further allege Hawkins told them he stole the firearms from his father and expressed a desire to replicate one of the most infamous school shootings in U.S. history, saying he “wanted to conduct his own school shooting like the Columbine shooters did,” referencing the 1999 massacre at Columbine High School in Colorado that left 13 people dead.
Community leaders and school officials have since praised Moore’s actions, describing his response as both instinctive and heroic. Pauls Valley Superintendent Brett Knight referred to the principal as a “hero,” noting that Moore had also served as a mentor to him earlier in his career. “He’s actually been a mentor to me,” Knight said. “He was kinda the one that kind of helped me when I was first hired.”
Pauls Valley City Councilman Kahn Nirschl also voiced strong support for Moore in the aftermath of the attack, stressing the impact of his decision to intervene without hesitation. “He undoubtedly saved lives today through his actions,” he said.
Following the incident, Hawkins was taken into custody and formally charged with shooting with intent to kill, along with additional firearm-related offenses. He is scheduled to appear in court on May 8. Meanwhile, Principal Moore has since stated that he is “healthy and recovering” after being hospitalized for his injuries, even as officials continue to investigate the full scope of the attack and how the armed suspect was able to reach the school’s interior.
