Hero Oklahoma principal who stopped school shooter honored as prom king

The Oklahoma high school principal who was shot while tackling a gunman on campus was honored by students as prom king during the school’s prom night.

Kirk Moore, principal of Pauls Valley High School, received a tribute during the school’s prom last Friday. Moore, who was injured earlier this month while confronting an armed former student, was greeted with applause as the DJ introduced him as “our king” and played the song “Hero” by Nickelback. Students surrounded him, cheering, jumping in celebration, and placed a king's hat on his head.

The recognition comes after Moore was captured on surveillance footage charging at 20-year-old Victor Lee Hawkins, who had entered the school with two pistols. Hawkins entered the school lobby earlier this month, pointing a pistol at a student before Moore rushed in to intervene.

As Hawkins turned the weapon on him, Moore tackled the suspect but was shot in the leg during the struggle. Another staff member assisted in restraining Hawkins until police arrived and took him into custody.

According to KFOR, court documents revealed that Hawkins told police he “didn’t like Principal Moore” and said he “went to the school to kill him.” Hawkins was reportedly inspired by the Columbine shooters and intended to carry out a similar attack.

Moore was hospitalized following the shooting but has since recovered. Officials credited his actions, saying a far more serious outcome could have occurred.

“The actions of the staff and the principal stepping in as soon as they saw a subject with a firearm saved lives today,” Hunter McKee, of the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, said after the incident.