Wired Word Lesson of the Week

The Wired Word

Topic for Sunday, May 24, 2026:

School Principle Tackles Gunman, Credits "God's Hand":  A high school principal recently tackled a gunman inside a school in Oklahoma, saving lives and then stating, "I think God's hand was on all of us." In response, this Wired Word class will focus on God's intervention in catastrophes, and how we experience God's presence and power in difficult situations.

In the News

Individuals are encouraged to read the news below related to this topic before the May 24th bible study to be prepared for an engaging conversation:

On April 7, an Oklahoma high school principal tackled a gunman in the lobby of his school, protecting students and staff from deadly violence. Kirk Moore, an educator for 35 years, raced into the hallway after the suspect opened fire at Pauls Valley High School. He pushed the gunman onto a bench and held him down until another staffer helped to kick the weapon away.

Principal Moore was shot in the leg and then airlifted to a nearby hospital. No one else was injured in the shooting. Pauls Valley Police Chief Don May said to CBS News, "We're about a population of 6,200 people. Good kids, good community. Certainly don't expect these type of situations to happen in your town."

Lindel Fields, the Oklahoma superintendent of public instruction, said that Moore "got up like the rest of us to go to work and who dreamed this was going to happen? So I just want to say thank you."

Moore gave credit to his "instincts and training, as well as God's hand" for helping him subdue the threat. He said he was looking forward to returning to work so that he could continue his "life's work educating the next generation of Oklahoma leaders."

The suspect, Victor Lee Hawkins, 20, is a former student of Pauls Valley High School. He is facing multiple charges, including shooting with intent to kill. After pleading "not guilty," he remains in custody on a $1 million bond.

According to The Independent, investigators allege that Hawkins was armed with two semi-automatic pistols when he entered the school, weapons that he had obtained from his father's closet. Investigators say that Hawkins "wanted to conduct his own school shooting like the Columbine shooters did," with a plan to kill students, Moore, other faculty members and himself.

After entering the building, Hawkins tried to shoot a student but found that one of his weapons had malfunctioned. After fixing the malfunction, Hawkins spotted another student and discharged his weapon, missing his target. The second student put his hands up and pleaded with Hawkins to not shoot him. The gunman then allowed the two students to leave.

At that point, Moore charged at the shooter and tackled him. The weapon was removed from the shooter's hand, after the principal was shot in the leg. Moore and the school's assistant principal lay on top of Hawkins until authorities arrived.

Later, Moore said, "I don't know what I was thinking." In an interview on "CBS Mornings," he recounted, "I was just running to get to whatever was going on." Officials said that his heroism was the reason that no one else at the school was injured, and that the suspect was arrested.

"I think it was just instinct," Moore said of his actions. "You know, in 37 years, you go through trainings and drills and what you should do. That all goes out the window." Glad that it worked out the way it did, Moore added, "I think God's hand was on all of us, but I can't explain why it happened the way it did."

Moore was later crowned prom king and dubbed "our king" at a school dance. In a video obtained by NBC News, students can be seen cheering and high-fiving the principal. "It doesn't surprise me the actions that he took, but it is amazing," said Police Chief May. "There's not a doubt in my mind that he saved kids' lives."

In his own statement, Moore expressed his "gratitude for the outpouring of love and support" that he had received. "This support is the reason I am healthy and recovering today."

More on this story can be found at these links:

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