Background: 

1. Pauls Valley High School is a public school in Oklahoma serving grades 10–12.
2. There are approximately 60 staff members and 300 students.
3. The school is located in Pauls Valley, a city in Garvin County with a population of about 5,992.

Timeline of Events: 

1. The shooting began Tuesday, April 7, 2026 at approximately 2:19pm.
2. From the school’s schedule, 6th period ended at 2:20pm and 7th period began at 2:25pm. This placed the event directly in a transition window.
3. The gunman, Victor Hawkins, age 20 and a former student, entered through the main doors.

4. He pointed a gun at students and ordered them to get on the ground. He pulled the trigger, attempting to shoot a student, but the pistol malfunctioned.
5. Hawkins stepped behind a vending machine to clear the weapon.
6. When he came back out, he pointed the gun at another student and fired. He missed.
7. The student raised his hands and asked Hawkins not to shoot. Hawkins lowered the gun and told him to leave. The student ran from the main entrance.
8. Hearing the gunfire, principal Kirk Moore ran to the lobby.
9. He confronted Hawkins and the two wrestled on a bench in the foyer. During the struggle, Hawkins shot Moore in the leg.
10. Moore was able to disarm him and with another staff member, they held Hawkins down until police arrived.
11. Hawkins was arrested at the scene. His bail is set at one million dollars.
12. During questioning, Hawkins admitted he wanted to copy the Columbine shooters.
13. He stated he intended to kill students, staff, and then himself.
14. He said the firearms belonged to his father and that he stole them from a closet.
15. He also stated that he specifically wanted to kill Principal Moore.

Points to Consider

1. Hawkins entered through the main doors during the school day.
   He was no longer a student. Whether the doors were unlocked, he was buzzed in or let in by another student, is still unknown. But if this single point of access could have been controlled it could have prevented him entering the building.
2. The firearms were taken from his father. This is the norm. Children who use guns for harmful acts most often get them from immediate family members.

   If you feel comfortable sending this to your parents, consider reminding them to secure their weapons. 

   Here’s a script you can use.

   Hey there,

   Statistically, children who use guns for harmful acts most often get them from home. If you own firearms, please secure them.

   Lock them up and store them where they cannot be accessed.

   If you use a lock, make sure you are the only one who has access to the key. If you use a code, consider changing it routinely.

   If you don’t have a lock, you can get one for free through Project ChildSafe. (https://projectchildsafe.org)

   If you have any concerns, consider moving them out of the house.

   This isn’t in response to a specific threat. Just a simple, important reminder to protect our children. 

   Thank you for doing your part!

3. This makes at least 76 school shootings (probably much more) where the shooter stated that he or she wanted to copy Columbine.
4. There is a deep, dark thread that leads all the way back to 1999. It is not hyperbole to say that if not for Columbine, we wouldn’t be going through this and that there is no ending these until we sever that thread.
5. The anniversary date of Columbine is fast approaching (April 20). Take a good hard look at your protection and connections and take whatever steps necessary to immediately enhance your E-SAT!

   Engagement
   Supervision
   Access Control
   Territorial Reinforcement (Ownership)

   I promise you that if you do that you will greatly drop your vulnerability to shootings, bullying, and disruptions while at the same time strengthening your connections, trust, and relationships.

6. We don’t often talk about the emotional trauma tied to violence, but a student had to beg for his life. That moment doesn’t pass when the danger ends. Sixty seconds or less can live in someone’s mind for sixty years or more.

   The primary goal of violence prevention is to save lives. 

   As long as there is breath, there is hope. But saving them from the emotional damage of these moments is a very close second. We must pay the price on the front end through awareness, action, and prevention so those we love and lead don’t have to carry it for the rest of their lives.

   As always, if you need any help or would like to problem solve an issue, please text or call (540-577-7200).