United States: Armed man enters high school, principal tackles him and prevents shooting

An heroic act that certainly saved lives. On Tuesday, April 7th, the principal of a high school in the state of Oklahoma (United States) subdued a shooter who was planning to carry out an attack at the school, as reported by NBC News.

A former student of the high school

A camera captured the incredible intervention by the principal. In the footage, seen by millions on social media, the shooter is seen entering the building with a weapon in hand. As he aims at a student sitting on a bench, the principal appears behind and tackles him, pinning him to the bench.

An assistant then arrives and removes the weapon that the assailant had dropped. The suspect, a 20-year-old man who was formerly a student at the high school, was later arrested and jailed. His bail was set at one million dollars, and he will appear for a preliminary hearing on May 8th.

He wanted to mimic the Columbine shooters

According to initial information, the young man entered the school with two semi-automatic pistols belonging to his father. He confessed to the crime and explained that he wanted to “carry out his own shooting in a school like the Columbine shooters”, referring to the massacre that claimed 14 victims in an American high school in 1999.

The suspect intended to kill students, teachers, and the principal whom he “did not like,” according to his statement. The high school principal, who was grazed on the leg by a bullet, was hospitalized but stated on Friday that he was recovering well. “There is no doubt in my mind that he saved lives,” said the local police chief regarding the principal.