Friends and family crowded the schools football stands during a vigil at later that night. We understand the need of every single client. WebKNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- Former Division III college football player William Riley Gaul was found guilty on Tuesday of first-degree murder after shooting through the bedroom wall of his ex He chose not to accept her wishes.. KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) - Knoxville native and Central High School graduate Kelsea Ballerini released the music video to her hit song half of my hometown Thursday. He became kind of controlling over her, what she did, her activities, Keegan said. ", "His interview was probably one of the most disconnected. The 16-year-old was shot in A memorial fund has been set up for Emma. Our student was a wonderful young lady, a cheerleader and honor student with a promising future, whose life was cut too short, too soon, Central High School Principal Michael Reynolds said in a statement Wednesday released to the paper. Just hours after calling law enforcement authorities, the 18-year-olds were ready to carry out the plan. Crime News is your destination for true crime stories from around the world, breaking crime news, and information about Oxygen's original true crime shows and documentaries. "I'm sorry I took Emma away from you, that I robbed you of the experience of watching your daughter grow up," Gaul said in court. In addition to the gun, police recovered what they believe to be a treasure trove of evidence, including gloves and black clothing, which authorities say point to Gaul also being the man dressed in black who was mysteriously at Walkers door the Saturday morning before she was killed. She was a cheerleader at Central High School and shared her smile with the entire Bobcat Nation. The Associated Press contributed to this report. When Gaul killed Walker, he forever disrupted their lives, they say in victim impact statements. Then, waste no time, come knocking to us at the Vending Services. Jill Walker said they advised their daughter to break-up with Gaul several times., But as you do that with a teenager, the more you butt heads, the more she is going to think he is in the right, she said. He knows he's not allowed here, Jill Walker said. WebEmma Walker, 16, was sleeping at home in her bed in North Knox County, Tennessee, in November 2016, when two shots were fired into her bedroom, one of which hit her in the Mardi Growl to close several roads in downtown Knoxville on Saturday, What you need to know about paying to park in the Great Smoky Mountains, Severe storms move through East Tennessee, Wednesday marks Emma Walker Day, honoring teen killed by ex-boyfriend in 2016, Judge who presided over Eric Boyd, A.J. high school cheerleader killed while she slept when Maryville College football player ex fired shots into her bedroom from outside her home Weldon described her niece to the paper as abeautiful soul who was looking forward to graduating high school so she could begin studying to be a neonatal nurse. Investigators had their suspicions, too especially after a witness in the neighborhood told detectives she believed Gaul had been the man in black trying to terrorize Emma the day before her death but they didnt have enough to pin the murder on him until two unlikely heroes stepped forward with a new lead in the case. Thus far there have been 130 mass shootings since the start of 2021, more than during the same period in 2018, 2019 and 2020. He came in very polite, very nice in the beginning. The next morning as she was driving home from a sleepover, Emma was spooked by a man she saw near her home dressed in all black. According to local news outlet WBIR 10, an anonymous source told reporters that the suspect in the shooting has been shot and killed. The YouCaring account says, "Our hearts are heavy with the tragic loss of Emma Walker of Fountain City, Knoxville. When she didn't rouse the next morning, Emmas mother, Jill Walker, went to check on her and discovered she was dead. Trial date set for man accused of killing Knoxville cheerleader, National Park Service says never push a slower friend down when escaping a bear, Late power surge lifts No. I love you,'" said Madisen Keavy, a reporter at ABC Knoxville affiliate WATE who covered the story. Its like a nightmare, Emma Watson's mother said after discovering her 16-year-old dead in bed in November 2016. Calendar. The Central High It's what our school revolves around," said Seth Armstrong, a recent Central High graduate who played for the team. She was a cheerleader and student at Central High School. Knox County Sheriff's Deputy Nikki Bules, the lead forensic technician on the case, said the call originally came in as a possible suicide. Knoxville Mayor Indya Kincannon said she visited the officer, who was in good spirits and said hed rather it be him who was shot than someone else. His friends witnessed his mood swings. The police officer was taken to UT Medical Centre with non-life-threatening injuries, and not other gunshot wounds were reported. Although he denied killing Emma, Gaul said he believed if law enforcement officers discovered the gun, they may link him to a crime he didnt commit. Ex-college football player on trial for ex-girlfriend's murder. Grief counselors were on hand at Central High on Tuesday. Sign up forOxygen Insiderfor all the best true crime content. "He got shot and started walking and he was holding his chest. "It's exciting.". At this point, detectives said they knew from McCarty that Gaul had shown his friend his grandfather's gun. No cops,'" said Walton. She also received a call from Gaul, who was screaming and begging her for help, according to the show. ", Alex McCarty and Noah Walton are seen here during an interview with ABC News' "20/20.". Students in the cafeteria began crying and scrambling to leave, while others tried to get in the room, thinking they had missed a fight, witnesses said. He said Gaul told him not to call 911 to report the alleged incident. "It was an individual directing his aggression toward another individual, not the school or the students inside the school.". And he said, 'I know. The team had just six cheerleaders to start the school year at Southeast High. Knoxville, TN. Just, you know, about the size of a ballpoint ink pen," he said. ", Stone also said Gaul denies being the mysterious "man dressed in black.". He quickly came to her aid and searched the house and neighborhood but found no signs of the hooded figure. Besides renting the machine, at an affordable price, we are also here to provide you with the Nescafe coffee premix. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Young Williams Animal Shelter or to the Emma Walker Memorial Fund. The Water Dispensers of the Vending Services are not only technically advanced but are also efficient and budget-friendly. November 23, 2016 / 3:49 PM It's been in his heart. Click here for more details on Pipeline. So, they want to share that same kindness and grace with others. I love you. Example video title will go here for this video. Maryville coach Shaun Hayes said through a spokesman that Gaul has been dismissed from the football program. Multiple gunshot victims have been reported at Austin-East Magnet High School, including a police officer responding to the scene. Authorities portrayed him as a jealous and possessive ex-boyfriend who harassed Walker. Police were sent to the Walker house. 16-year-old Emma Walker, a popular, bubbly Central High School cheerleader, went to sleep in her bedroom at her familys Tennessee home just like she had so many nights before but this time, the teenager would never wake up. The judge denied his request citing a lack of evidence. "Only knowing those posts about him, if you just read that, if you just saw that, you would think that this was an ex-boyfriend who just lost his first love.". Gaul's attorney, Wesley Stone, filed the motion to acquit the young man or give him a new trial three years ago. Varsity Coed Basketball. At the time of the murder, Gaul was attending Maryville College. The following morning, Walker went home. He wrote that to her, and we questioned him about it and he said, I was just angry. and thats when [I] started to get many more red flags.. WebEmma Walker, a beautiful and vibrant cheerleader, had been killed by a gunshot wound to the head after two bullets had been fired into her bedroom from outside the family's single But, as he was describing this in the interrogation room, Merritt said Gaul was "emotionless. He could come over to the house they would meet up after football games to eat, and things like that.. The suspect and victim knew each other, Knox County School System Superintendent Bill McIntyre said. She did her own thing., According to Walkers friends, Gaul became aggressive, sending her Snapchat messages that said, I hate you I hate everything about you and youre the biggest bitch Ive ever come in contact with.. She ran out of the house and found Gaul standing outside. I don't remember a whole lot from that. Her dad, Mark Walker, recalled hearing a loud noise the night she died Nov. 21, 2016. It can be a small gesture, such as bringing someone their very treat when they arrive home or simply giving a loved one a hug. Shes in fear, shes in a panic and so she reaches out to the one person that she thinks can help her which was Riley Gaul.. He told investigators he spent the rest of the night in the parking lot of his college dorm, 25 miles away, crying over the breakup. A Knox County jury convicted Gaul, now 22, of numerous counts including the November 2016 murder of the Central High School teen. The funeral service will follow at 3 at Hill Cemetery. His trial date on charges related to the death of 16-year-old Emma Walker was set for April 30. Although Gaul would later insist to investigators that he had been kidnapped by two men who threw him into a van, Emma believed Gaul had been faking the kidnapping. Jefferson County High School. Do you look forward to treating your guests and customers to piping hot cups of coffee? She was a 16-year Officials said evidence at the scene indicted Gaul fired shots into her bedroom At first, the relationship seemed just kind of normal," said Keegan Lyle, one of Walker's best friends. The former high school and college football player is serving a life sentence with a chance at parole after 51 years for killing Walker in her home in November 2016. The plan went off without a hitch and investigators took Gaul into custody that night. He refused to accept it. James Hurst told 20/20. When we got into the interview room and sat down, I felt like there was a dark side. She said she didnt care about the relationship anymore.. WebThe body of the high school junior was discovered about 6:30 a.m. Monday at 6802 Cardindale Drive in North Knox County. It almost seemed rehearsed, deliberate," Merritt told "20/20.". It sounded like someone was in the house and opened a door and slammed it, he told Dateline: Secrets Uncovered." We, on one occasion, saw one [that said] Ill see your name in the obituary, Jill Walker said. Around Halloween that year, Walkers parents decided to ground her - not allowing her to leave the house except to go to school and cheerleading. With justice served for Emma Walker's death, Jill Walker hopes what happened to her daughter can also serve as a warning to others who may be in tumultuous relationships. Purple was Emma's favorite color, they said, and wearing it would show support for her family and show a commitment to doing kindness for others. Over the next two years, Walker and Gaul seemed to become that other classic high school couple, the kind that was always breaking up and getting back together. This latest incident follows recent mass shootings Colorado, Atlanta and South Carolina that have led to a push by the Biden administration for gun control reforms. He was sentenced to life in prison. Friends described him as a jokester, not the classic jock type. The community around Central "And then looked at her face and realized and checked for a pulse and couldn't find anything. By fall 2016, Emma Walker and Gaul were still dating. Then, "Go alone," said another, and another said, "I've got someone you love. The officer apparently said he would have rather it be him who was shot than someone else. You will find that we have the finest range of products. "He would be off to the side, moping (and) saying things like, 'Oh, I just feel so depressed. Thats my beautiful Emma. Officials said Gaul was being held at the Knox County Jail on $750,000 bond. Because he had a way of isolating her and making her think that he was the only one.. WebKnoxville is also the site of Tennessees last fatal shooting of a student inside of a school. He got more possessive and more clingy towards her, and wouldnt let her do certain things, Lauren Hutton added. It was for my roommate. Boy next door, her mother Jill Walker said. WebSheriffs officials said Walker was found dead of a gunshot wound inside her house Monday morning. The school, which has about 1,400 students, was placed on lockdown after the shooting. Jill Walker said Gaul would always comment on what her daughter wore, telling her what she should and shouldnt wear, to the point where she said she ended up saying something to Emma about it. By Sunday night, things seemed back to normal at the Walker household. It's not just bruises, it's emotional and controlling. Gaul was previously indicted on charges of first degree murder, especially aggravated stalking, theft, tampering with evidence, reckless endangerment, employing a firearm during a dangerous felony, and felony murder charges. Detectives brought Gaul in for questioning on Monday about his whereabouts during the previous 72 hours. It's not OK," she said. Emmas parents say their house immediately felt calmer, but the sense of peace wouldnt last for long. Police said the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation would lead the probe into the shooting, while the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives confirmed special agents from their Nashville office responded to assist law enforcement. We went over all that with them and they were still adamant, very adamant that they wanted to do this. Greene said Walker started begging him for help, until he said, "Eventually she comes out and says, 'Zach, listen. "He basically told me that these people knocked him out, took his car and threw him in a van and he didn't know where he was.". WebNBCs Dateline: Noises in the Night examines the homicide case of 16-year-old Emily Walker that shook her hometown of Knoxville, Tennessee, to its very core. Early that fall, Walkers moves on the sidelines caught the eye of an older student, Number 8 Central Highs wide receiver and then-junior Riley Gaul. In 2008 at Central High School, 15-year-old Ryan McDonald was killed by another 15-year The cafeteria was a popular place to gather before classes started at 8:30 a.m., students said. As a host, you should also make arrangement for water. Notes. (Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. A preliminary hearing has been set for Dec. 2. Gaul was a freshman wide receiver and student at Maryville College, while Walker was a cheerleader and honors student at Central High School in Knoxville. Emma Walker's parents, Jill and Marker Walker, are seen here during an interview with ABC News' "20/20. Jamar Siler, 15, was charged with one count of first-degree murder and was being held in a juvenile court facility, police spokesman Darrell DeBusk said. ", Keegan Lyle is seen here during an interview with ABC News "20/20. Im home alone and somebody in all black walked down my street and came to my door and rang the doorbell over and over again, Walker texted, adding I thought I was going to die., She also texted Gaul, saying, I hate you but I need you right now.". Investigators said that on November 21, 2016, Gaul fired a gun into Walker's bedroom while she was asleep, killing the Central High School cheerleader. As shes pulling in the subdivision approaching her residence, she sees a person dressed all in black and as she gets closer, you know, he cinches the hood up and puts some sunglasses on, Knox County Sheriffs Office Detective Allen Merritt told Dateline: Secrets Uncovered. As she gets in the residence, then this person comes to the front door and starts, you know, trying to get in the front door of the house, turning the door knob, beating on the door. Gaul told detectives he had been trying to speak with Walker that weekend, but she wouldn't engage with him. Gaul was booked into the Knox County Jail on a $750,000 bond. "Consistent with her reaching out to Riley regarding the events Saturday morning he was attempting to get her to ask him for help again, sort of to be her protector. Knoxville police confirmed that the man reportedly armed was killed in a shootout at Austin-East Magnet High School around 3.15 pm local time. He says the officers encountered him in a bathroom and ordered him out but he wouldnt comply. Police identified the victim as Ryan McDonald, a sophomore who lived with his grandmother and had alopecia, a condition that left him bald and the target of endless teasing as a child. ", "What stood out to me from these tweets immediately was the repetitive nature of him saying, 'I love you. The text messages, however, became more menacing, Greene said. At his sentencing hearing today, Gaul, who did not speak during his trial, apologized to the Walkers for killing their daughter, but stuck by his defense that it was an accidental shooting. He was a little nerdy on the side, said Zach Greene, one of Walker's friends. Oxygen Insider is your all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more. In the state of Tennessee, a first-degree murder conviction carries an automatic life sentence. "He tried to have a tough exterior, like a shield, to fit in," his uncle Roger McDonald said. 2016 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. During his two-hour police interrogation, Gaul didnt referred to Emma Walker by name, only calling her "the girl.". The account says the 16-year-old's dream was to become a nurse. Students began to gather around the victim, said freshman Jared Wohlford, 14. Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in, Find your bookmarks in your Independent Premium section, under my profile. "We finally get to him and he's pulling up his head, kind of, has this confused face on," Greene said. I never meant to take Emma's life. Every day for the rest of his life, wherever that may be, he will have to live with that reality. Im coming Im speeding just give me a minute, Gaul texted her back. 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