Oklahoma principal wounded stopping school gunman, hailed as hero

Oklahoma principal tackles gunman

A high school principal in Oklahoma was shot in the leg Tuesday after confronting a man who entered the school with a gun, authorities said. (Credit: Pauls Valley High School)

PAULS VALLEY, Okla. - Newly released video shows an Oklahoma high school principal being shot in the leg after confronting an armed man who entered the school, authorities said.

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Pauls Valley High School Principal Kirk Moore is in stable condition, and no students were injured in the shooting, according to authorities. 

The suspect, a 20-year-old former student, was taken into custody, Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation spokesman Hunter McKee told reporters outside the school.

The 48-second video shows Moore emerging from behind a wall and tackling the gunman onto a bench as students nearby ran away.

Newly released video captures the moment an Oklahoma high school principal was shot while confronting an armed intruder on campus.

What they're saying:

Moore and other staff members quickly confronted the former student after they noticed he entered the school with a gun, McKee said.

"The subject was able to fire multiple rounds, where the principal was hurt, but no one else was," McKee said. "The actions of the staff and the principal stepping in as soon as they saw a subject with a firearm saved lives today."

Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt said Moore "acted bravely to protect students’ lives" and that he and his wife were praying for his quick recovery.

"I’m thankful for the swift response from law enforcement and school staff, and I’m grateful no students were harmed," he said in a post on the social platform X.

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Pauls Valley is a community of about 6,000 people 60 miles south of Oklahoma City.