Oklahoma
Oklahoma principal shot disarming ex-student with semi-automatic guns
An Oklahoma principal has been praised for preventing a tragedy at his high school by charging and disarming a former student armed with two semi-automatic handguns, an episode captured on dramatic surveillance video.
Kirk Moore, principal of Pauls Valley high school, was shot in the leg as he wrestled the attacker, a 20-year-old said by court documents to be obsessed with the 1999 shooting at Colorado’s Columbine high school in which 12 students and one teacher were killed.
Authorities in Garvin county, about 60 miles south of Oklahoma City, said Moore’s action of racing from his office in the school’s lobby, and throwing himself on top of the suspect, undoubtedly prevented a tragedy.
“It doesn’t surprise me the actions that he took, but it is amazing, the actions that he took,” Don May, chief of the Pauls Valley police department, told NBC News.
“There’s not a doubt in my mind that he saved kids’ lives.”
Investigators said the alleged attacker, Victor Lee Hawkins, fired several shots before he was disarmed by Moore and another staff member who arrived to help. Nobody was hurt other than the principal, who needed hospital treatment for a wound to his lower right leg.
Hawkins remained at the Garvin county detention center on Tuesday on $1m bail, NBC reported, awaiting a court appearance on 8 May. He faces charges of shooting with intent to kill, feloniously pointing a firearm and carrying a weapon to a public assembly.
The incident occurred shortly before 2.20pm on 7 April, according to an arrest affidavit signed by special agent Meric Mussett of the Oklahoma state bureau of investigation.
About 20 minutes earlier, Mussett wrote, Hawkins, a 2025 graduate of the high school, took two of his father’s weapons from a closet in their home and drove to the campus “with the intent of killing students, facility [sic], and finally himself”.
Hawkins “entered the school, pointed his pistol, and yelled for everyone to get on the ground”, Mussett said, adding that he pointed the gun at a female student in the lobby and pulled the trigger, but the weapon malfunctioned.
“Hawkins then stepped out from behind the vending machine and pointed his gun at a male student in the foyer. Principal Moore then came out of his office and charged at Hawkins.”
Mussett said Hawkins told him he wanted to “conduct his own school shooting like the Columbine shooters did”, referring to the 1999 Colorado tragedy in which two teenage assailants took their own lives after murdering students and staff.
“Hawkins did not like Moore, therefore Hawkins went to the school to kill Moore,” Mussett wrote.
A statement on its website under the heading “safe school” details Pauls Valley’s preparations for such an incident.
“Throughout the past decade… the high school has also developed and practiced safety measures to be taken should there be an intruder or dangerous individual on campus,” it said. “It is our foremost concern that our students feel and are safe at school.”
Several former students told Oklahoma City’s ABC News affiliate KOCO they were not surprised by Moore’s action.
“If some student was to get harmed, he would definitely take a bullet for him. I believe that,” Spencer Flinn said.
In a statement reported by NBC, Moore said he was grateful for “an outpouring of love and support” that followed the incident.
“Like so many educators around the country, we prepare for these events through training and careful assessment of the threats,” he said. “I am grateful that my instincts and training, as well as God’s hand, were available to me.”
Moore said he was “healthy and recovering”, and looking forward to returning to work.
OKLAHOMA CITY (KOKH) — Officials with the Oklahoma Highway Patrol are remembering a dedicated K-9 officer who passed away earlier this month.
K-9 Dak was born in 2014 and began serving with the OHP in 2015.
Throughout his distinguished career, officials say Dak’s exceptional instincts made a significant impact on public safety across the state.
During his career, Dak was instrumental in the seizure of over 2,000 pounds of marijuana, 46 pounds of cocaine, 151 pounds of methamphetamine, and 99 pounds of fentanyl.
“These remarkable accomplishments represent countless lives protected and communities made safer through Dak’s service,” OHP wrote.
Dak worked his final shift on June 3 before peacefully passing away from natural causes on June 7.
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“More than his statistics and accomplishments, Dak was a loyal partner, trusted teammate, and beloved member of the Oklahoma Highway Patrol. His legacy will live on through the work he accomplished, the bond he shared with his handler, and the many lives he touched throughout his career,” OHP said.
It’s Boomer Sooner time in Omaha.
Oklahoma has won the 2026 Men’s College World Series, steamrolling through North Carolina in the winner-take-all Game 3, 13-2, capturing its first national title in over 30 years and third overall. The Sooners are the seventh straight SEC team to win the national championship.
A dogpile with cheers that made its way through the infiled, it closed out the Sooners’ one-for-the-ages NCAA tournament run.
for the third time in program history, the Oklahoma Sooners are national champions 🏆 pic.twitter.com/xEvjGxhqgM
— Oklahoma Baseball (@OU_Baseball) June 23, 2026
It was an all-around masterclass for OU, jumping out to a 3-1 lead by the end of the third and never looking back. They put at least one run across the plate in four of the final six innings, including three in the fourth and four in the eighth.
The fourth was where Oklahoma’s upper hand became clear. Walker McDuffie’s three consecutive one-out walks loaded the bases, and UNC turned to star freshman Caden Glauber. The Tar Heels were previously 29-0 with whenever he pitched, but he was pulled after a walk and Jaxon Willits’ two-RBI single.
LJ Mercurius was outstanding on the mound, entering for starter Nick Wesloski in the third and tossing 5.2 innings, giving up just one run on four hits. It was his longest outing since April 17.
Outside of Mercurius, shortstop Jaxon Willits and Kyle Branch starred for the Sooners. The former went 3-for-4 with two RBIs and was named Most Outstanding Player, while Branch also went 3-for-4 with a homer and six RBIs, a career-high. He’s the third player all-time to record six or more RBIs in a national championship game.
The victory caps off OU’s gauntlet-like journey to the top. After finishing 11th in SEC regular season play, they knocked off five national seeds — three in the top five and two on the road — leaning on a trio of freshman arms and a historic power surge at the plate.
Men’s College World Series All-Tournament Team:
- Catcher: Deiten LaChance, Oklahoma
- First base: Erik Paulsen, North Carolina
- Second base: Gavin Gallaher, North Carolina
- Third base: Tyrus Hall, West Virginia
- Shortstop: Jaxon Willits, Oklahoma
- Outfield: Jason Walk, Oklahoma
- Outfield: Owen Hull, North Carolina
- Outfield: Dasan Harris, Oklahoma
- Designated Hitter: Adrian Rodriguez, Texas
- Pitcher: Joey Volchko, Georgia
- Pitcher: Caden Glauber, North Carolina
THE 2026 #MCWS ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM ⚾️ pic.twitter.com/wlaQxxYFL3
— NCAA Baseball (@NCAABaseball) June 23, 2026
OKLAHOMA CITY (KOKH) — The Oklahoma National Guard announced the loss of a specialist who passed away last week.
On Monday, the Oklahoma National Guard announced the passing of Spc. Blake C. Akin, who passed away on June 17.
“We are saddened by the loss of Spc. Blake Akin,” said Maj. Gen. Thomas H. Mancino, adjutant general for Oklahoma. “Our thoughts and prayers are with his loved ones and fellow Soldiers during this difficult time.”
Akin, 24, enlisted as an infantryman in November of 2021. He was a member of Charlie Company, 179th Infantry Regiment, 45th Infantry Brigade Combat Team.
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A memorial service for Akin will be held at 2 p.m. at Smith and Kernke Funeral Home Chapel, located at 14624 N. May Ave. in Oklahoma City.
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