A courageous high school principal in Oklahoma tackled a gunman and possibly saved the lives of his entire students at Pauls Valley High School.
We hear news of hate and violence every day and it barely shocks us anymore. The Bible warned us about this, that in the last days people will become lovers of themselves, without love for others, without any care for the pain they cause. And we see it playing out right in front of our eyes.
Evil has claimed the hearts of so many, and the result is devastating. They walk into schools, churches, grocery stores and just start shooting. Just killing innocent lives like it means nothing.
A mom who’s waiting for her kids to come home from school gets the phone call no parent should ever have to get. A husband hears the news that his wife isn’t coming home. A whole community is left crying over people they loved. And honestly, our hearts have become so hardened hearing these stories day after day.
We often ask ourselves, where is this world even going? Doesn’t God see all this? But then a story like this one comes along, and it reminds us that yes, He does see. And He still shows up.
On April 7, a 20-year-old former student named Victor Lee Hawkins walked into the lobby of Pauls Valley High School, carrying two loaded semiautomatic pistols he’d stolen from his father’s closet. He drove his dad’s truck to the school.
He yelled for everyone to get on the ground. Then he pointed a gun at a student and pulled the trigger. But the gun malfunctioned. It didn’t fire. He stepped behind a vending machine, cleared the jam, came back out and shot at another student. He missed. Both students put their hands up and begged him not to shoot.
God’s hand was already moving. Hawkins actually lowered the gun and told them to leave. Those kids ran.
And then Principal Kirk Moore came through a door. Security footage shows him charge at Hawkins without even a heartbeat of hesitation. He tackled him from behind, slammed him onto a bench, ripped a pistol out of his hand and held him down.
The assistant principal jumped in to help, and together they pinned Hawkins until police arrived. During the struggle, Hawkins shot Moore in the right leg.
Investigators say Hawkins admitted he “wanted to conduct his own school shooting like the Columbine shooters did” and went there specifically to kill students, staff, Moore and himself. He told police he “did not like Principal Moore.” Police Chief Don May put it simply. “There’s not a doubt in my mind that he saved kids’ lives.”
Moore is out of the hospital now and recovering. And what he said in his statement just says everything about this man. “I am grateful that my instincts and training, as well as God’s hand, were available to me.”
We can clearly see the miraculous hand of God in stopping evil’s plan on that day at that school. A gun that jammed at just the right moment. A gunman who for some reason let those students go. And most importantly, a principal who went out of his way despite his age, despite the risk to his own life, and charged straight at a man with a gun. That’s not just bravery. That’s how God used someone for His purpose.
But let’s be honest, we all have some kind of responsibility here too. Praying for our nation, our churches, and our schools has become more important now than any time before. And beyond prayer, parents can give more attention to their kids. Get to know what they are carrying in their hearts.
Listen to them and guide them in faith, love, and patience. If every parent could move a step forward for their children, many tragedies could be avoided.
Let’s lift up Principal Moore, the students, and the entire Pauls Valley community in prayer as they heal from this.
WATCH: Brave Principal Tackles Gunman and Saves Lives
