A school principal who has been dubbed a hero for stopping an attempted school shooting has been given another honorary title by his students – prom king.
Oklahoma high school administrator Kirk Moorewent viral last week when a video of him subduing a gunmanentering Pauls Valley High School was released online.As previously reported by USA TODAY,20-year-old Victor Hawkins allegedly entered the school's lobby with a gun on April 7 with the intent of conducting "his own school shooting like theColumbine shooters." He was stopped by Moore, who was shot in the leg in the process.
The Pauls Valley Police Department credited Moore's "amazing heroic actions" that "saved lives" in astatement shared on social media, and Pauls Valley Public Schools Superintendent Brett Knight called him a hero. However, the students at Pauls Valley High decided these recognitions weren't quite enough to honor the district employee of more than 35 years.
In a second viral clip from April 17, groups of students watch on as a DJ announces the winner of the prom king vote.
"Ladies and gentlemen, our king, Kirk Moore!" he says before the room erupts into shouts and applause.
Students can be seen jumping and clapping as Moore, dressed in a sports coat, approaches the front of the room with a smile, as Nickelback's song "Hero" blasts from the speakers. After a wave of high-fives, a crown is placed on his head as the crowd chants and cheers.
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Principal called a 'hero' after thwarting school shooting
On Tuesday, April 7, Hawkins entered Pauls Valley High School with the intent of allegedly carrying out a Columbine-like shooting, according to an affidavit obtained byThe Oklahoman, part of the USA TODAY Network.
The affidavit described Hawkins allegedly pointing a pistol at a student and pulling the trigger, at which point the gun malfunctioned and failed to fire. After taking cover behind a vending machine to fix it, he allegedly pointed the gun at another student and discharged it; however, he did not hit anyone, aspreviously reported by USA TODAY.
It was then that Moore heard the gunfire from his office, and he rushed out in an attempt to apprehend Hawkins.
In the security video of the attempted shooting, released on April 14, Moore can be seen head down, charging the former student and tackling him back onto a bench. He then wrestles the gun from Hawkins' hand, even while having sustained a gunshot wound to the leg when the firearm discharged during the struggle, according to the affidavit.
"Like so many educators around the country, we prepare for these events through training and careful assessment of the threats," Moore said in anApril 10 statement. "I am grateful that my instincts and training, as well as God’s hand, were available to me on Tuesday."
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Watch principal who disarmed gunman be honored as prom king
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