Security camera footage has captured the dramatic moment an Oklahoma headteacher charged at a gunman who had entered his school, with the intention of carrying out a mass shooting.
Kirk Moore, headteacher at Pauls Valley High School, is seen rushing towards 20-year-old suspect Victor Hawkins, a former pupil who walked into the building armed with a gun on April 7.
The viral footage shows Mr Moore tackling Hawkins and forcing him onto a bench against a wall, with another member of staff quickly arriving to remove the weapon after being dropped from the attacker's grasp.
During the struggle, Mr Moore sustained a gunshot wound to his leg. He was subsequently airlifted to OU Health in Oklahoma City for treatment before being discharged several days later.
The video shows Hawkins, wearing a black hooded top, entering the school's front lobby shortly before 2.20pm after someone opened the door for him.
He can be seen pointing his firearm at those present, with one person raising their hands in response. Investigators believe the weapon initially jammed when Hawkins attempted to fire.
After apparently fixing the malfunction, he directed the gun at a person seated on a bench in the lobby area.
Mr Moore then emerged through a doorway and sprinted at the former student from the side, bringing him down onto the seating.
CCTV footage has captured the dramatic moment an Oklahoma headteacher charged at a gunman
|PAULS VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL
At one point during the confrontation, the barrel was aimed directly at the principal's head.
A colleague swiftly intervened, kicking the dropped weapon away from Hawkins as Mr Moore kept him restrained.
Court documents have disclosed that Hawkins planned to carry out a mass killing at the school, drawing inspiration from the 1999 Columbine massacre in Colorado that left 13 pupils and one teacher dead.
During his arraignment hearing on Wednesday, the 20-year-old told the judge he "fully intended" to shoot students and faculty members before taking his own life.
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Mr Moore was seen pinning Hawkins to the bench as a student fled the scene
|PAULS VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL
Prosecutors stated that Hawkins specifically wanted to emulate the Columbine attackers in conducting his assault.
The former pupil also identified Mr Moore as someone "he did not like" and had targeted him along with others at the school.
According to Hunter McKee, spokesman for the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, the gunman managed to discharge several rounds, wounding the principal but striking no one else.
Mr Moore, who is now recuperating at home, issued a statement last Friday expressing his eagerness to return to work "as soon as possible".
Another staff member removed the gun from the scene after kicking it away from the shooter
|PAULS VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL
The headteacher attributed his rapid response to the preparation that educators across America undertake for such emergencies.
"Like so many educators around the country, we prepare for these events through training and careful assessment of the threats," he wrote. "I am grateful that my instincts and training, as well as God's hand, were available to me."
Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt commended the principal's courage, writing on social media: "Principal Moore acted bravely to protect students' lives. Sarah and I are praying for his quick recovery."
Hawkins faces charges including shooting with intent to kill, two counts of pointing a firearm, and carrying a weapon to a public assembly. His bond has been set at $1million, with his next court appearance scheduled for May 8.