PAULS VALLEY, OKLAHOMA — Pauls Valley High School Principal Kirk Moore tackled a 20-year-old gunman armed with two semiautomatic handguns in the school's lobby, stopping an attempted shooting at the Oklahoma school about 60 miles south of Oklahoma City. Moore was shot in the leg during the confrontation and was hospitalized, authorities said.

Victor Lee Hawkins entered the lobby of the high school carrying two semiautomatic handguns and told everyone inside to hit the ground, according to court filings. Hawkins attempted to shoot one student, but a weapon malfunction prevented the shot. After clearing the malfunction, he opened fire on another student but missed. Two students pleaded for mercy and were allowed to leave, and other pupils followed them out.

Moore then charged out of a nearby door and tackled Hawkins from behind, pinning him face down on a bench, removing a gun from his hand and holding him down with the help of an assistant principal, according to court filings and school security video. In an arrest affidavit, Hawkins stated that he had taken two firearms belonging to his father without permission.

He said he intended to kill students, faculty members, Moore and himself, court filings show. Prosecutors alleged that Hawkins described Moore as someone he did not like and said he wanted to conduct his own school shooting like the Columbine shooters did. The 1999 Columbine shooting ended in the deaths of 14 victims and two teenage shooters.

Hawkins has been charged with shooting with intent to kill, feloniously pointing a firearm and carrying a weapon to a public assembly, according to court records. He was held at the Garvin County Detention Center in lieu of $1 million bail and was scheduled to appear in court on May 8 for a preliminary hearing conference.

Pauls Valley Police Chief Don May said, "There's not a doubt in my mind that he saved kids' lives." Moore expressed gratitude for love and support following the incident. "I am grateful that my instincts and training, as well as God's hand, were available to me," he said. Moore also said he is healthy and recovering and looks forward to returning to work as soon as he is able.