Sixteen-year-old Emma Walker was a beautiful, vibrant and warm-hearted cheerleader and high school student. But friends and family recalled Gauls possessive and controlling habits with Emma and suspected the grieving ex-boyfriend may have played a bigger role in her death than he was letting on. She really loved doing it. "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.". He says the officers encountered him in a bathroom and ordered him out but he wouldnt comply. At this point, detectives said they knew from McCarty that Gaul had shown his friend his grandfather's gun. We went over all that with them and they were still adamant, very adamant that they wanted to do this. 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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. Knoxville School Superintendent Bob Thomas said students who were not involved in the shooting at Austin-East Magnet High School have been released to their families. Parents of Emma Walker, the teen killed by her ex-boyfriend, and Katie Hood, One Love Foundation CEO, describe what to do if someone is in an unhealthy relationship. on demand Nov 17, 2022 3:00 PM PST. WebSixteen-year-old Central High School cheerleader Emma Walker was killed by her ex-boyfriend William Riley Gaul inside her Knoxville, Tennessee home on November 21, 2016. Friends said they grew concerned because it became apparent to many of them that Gaul didnt want Walker to hang out with anyone but him. 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. The funeral service will follow at 3 at Hill Cemetery. The song is climbing the country music charts, and she and Kenny Chesney performed it live at the 2021 CMAs on CBS and WVLT. 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. 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. But Gaul didn't seem to take the breakup well. As a host, you should also make arrangement for water. He and Walker went outside and sure enough, he said, they found "a body lying face down" in a ditch near the house. She ran out of the house and found Gaul standing outside. I'm making sure Emma is OK, and he's trying to talk to me, and I just said, You know you're not allowed, you need to leave. And he did leave.. Detectives asked Gaul about the gun, but he told them he didn't know where it was. high school cheerleader killed while she slept when Maryville College football player ex fired shots into her bedroom from outside her home WebKnoxville 0:04 0:57 The case of murdered Central High School cheerleader Emma Jane Walker will be profiled on "Dateline" tonight at 10 p.m. on NBC. Someone dropped me off here' I don't know what's happening' Where am I? One man was killed and a police officer injured at a Tennessee high school shooting on Monday afternoon. A jury found Riley Gaul guilty of Emma Walker's murder, and he was sentenced to life in prison. Tennessee Governor Bill Lee acknowledged the shooting at Austin-East Magnet High School in a statement, calling it a very difficult and tragic situation.. Although Gaul, who was two years older, already had a girlfriend of his own, he promised Emma that he would break up with her. Her fun, kind, sweet spirit was contagious. Lyle said friends told Walker that they didnt like the way Gaul treated her, but she just kind of brushed it off, Lyle said. She was a cheerleader at Central High School and shared her smile with the entire Bobcat Nation. "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. 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. "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. WebWilliam Riley Gaul was a college football player when he murdered his 16-year-old cheerleader ex-girlfriend, Emma Jane Walker, while she was asleep in her bed at her home Similarly, if you seek to install the Tea Coffee Machines, you will not only get quality tested equipment, at a rate which you can afford, but you will also get a chosen assortment of coffee powders and tea bags. WebDateline NBC: Noises in the Night is an episode that chronicles the 2016 murder of Emma Walker, a popular and bubbly high school student who was found slain in her bed in her Emmas parents say their house immediately felt calmer, but the sense of peace wouldnt last for long. The suspect that was led away in handcuffs is reportedly being detained for questioning regarding the incident. "The girl, she texted me," Gaul told detectives. By: Logan Newman. "Emma's like, 'Why are you here?' 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.". The Friday before Thanksgiving as Emma was at a party with friends, she got a disturbing text message telling her that Gaul had been kidnapped. And going way overboard to do that," she added. A local news outlet in Knoxville, Tennessee has reported that an individual has been detained as a suspect in the shooting at Austin-East Magnet High School that left multiple people wounded. A Knox County jury convicted Gaul, now 22, of numerous counts including the November 2016 murder of the Central High School teen. Gaul said he thought he had spent Friday night at his friend Noah Waltons house. "He was a good kid who was dealt some bad cards in life.". "Everybody kept giving us the name Riley Gaul because of their relationship, because they had seen the way that Riley had treated her, the way he'd talk to her," Merritt said. It almost seemed rehearsed, deliberate," Merritt told "20/20.". "I took off running and ran outside and called my mom," Matthews said. Maryvilles football roster indicates Gaul graduated from Central High. These services (at no. ), Student killed in shooting at Knoxville school, Judge sets bond for 76-year-old woman accused of killing terminally ill husband. Then we're all like, yes finally, it's happening. We're like, What we've been waiting for.. 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. I never meant to take Emma's life. The account says the 16-year-old's dream was to become a nurse. She also received a call from Gaul, who was screaming and begging her for help, according to the show. Gauls friends became concerned with his well-being. The arrangement didnt sit well with Emmas parents, but Emma could be stubborn. She said she didnt care about the relationship anymore.. "She's, she's 16.". She loved just being part of crowd appeal.. Siler will be represented by the public defender's office. She's like, Zach, I'm getting these really weird text messages [that say] Come outside alone if you don't want to see a loved one get hurt, Greene said. Gaul's grandfather, who had kept the gun in his car, had reported the 9mm handgun missing prior to Gaul being questioned. She told him she had been receiving strange text messages from a number she didnt recognize. Every day for the rest of his life, wherever that may be, he will have to live with that reality. She was shot through a wall of her home as she slept. But I was just like, Oh he's shy it just seemed normal. He denied showing it to McCarty and also denied asking Walton about removing fingerprints from a gun. Emma texted with her friend Keegan Lyle about a homework assignment, then went to bed a little after midnight. Knoxville, TN. ", Signs of an unhealthy relationship and what you should do about it. Friends and family of Emma Walker are invited to Central Baptist Church of Fountain City. 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. But, as he was describing this in the interrogation room, Merritt said Gaul was "emotionless. All Right Reserved. [On] Sunday, we followed her to work, followed her back home to watch and make sure she was safe.. KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -A student fatally shot a 15-year-old classmate during a dispute Thursday at a Knoxville high school, police said, as other teenagers watched in horror as the victim clutched his chest and fell to the floor. WebThe body of the high school junior was discovered about 6:30 a.m. Monday at 6802 Cardindale Drive in North Knox County. Then, waste no time, come knocking to us at the Vending Services. No cops,'" said Walton. "He tried to have a tough exterior, like a shield, to fit in," his uncle Roger McDonald said. It had initially been scheduled for December 4. KNOXVILLE, Tenn. Three years after his trial, the 22-year-old Knoxville man convicted of shooting his ex-girlfriend to death as she slept sought a new trial, but was denied Friday. So, they want to share that same kindness and grace with others. Janaria Muhammad, 15, Justin Taylor, 15, and Stanley Freeman Jr, 16, were students at the school when killed in shootings that occurred away various locations away from the campus in recent months. Grief counselors were on hand at Central High on Tuesday. Multiple gunshot victims have been reported at Austin-East Magnet High School, including a police officer responding to the scene. So they were wrapping tape around our house, and walking around outside, but we still had no idea what had happened to her.". Either way, the machines that we have rented are not going to fail you. 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. The police officer was taken to UT Medical Centre with non-life-threatening injuries, and not other gunshot wounds were reported. Gaul took to social media to mourn Walker, posting a series of tweets and a lengthy Facebook post. Pub. I know I called 911. WebPolice say Emma was killed in her bedroom on Nov. 21 when her 18-year-old ex-boyfriend, former Maryville College wide receiver William Riley Gaul, allegedly shot her from outside Welcome to The Independents rolling coverage of a mass shooting at a high school in Knoxville, Tennessee. So, find out what your needs are, and waste no time, in placing the order. It's what our school revolves around," said Seth Armstrong, a recent Central High graduate who played for the team. One man was killed and a police officer injured at a Tennessee high school shooting on Monday afternoon. Then on Friday, Nov. 18, 2016, Walker was allowed to attend a gathering at a friends house. When Walker failed to meet up with her mother that morning as planned, Jill Walker returned to home and found her daughter and Gaul in the front yard. (Knoxville Police Department) One man was killed and a police officer injured at a Tennessee high school shooting on Monday afternoon. Officials said Gaul was being held at the Knox County Jail on $750,000 bond. She wasnt OK with it, but she did let it happen, friend Lauren added. On Tuesday night - just one day after Walker's murder, detectives wired the two teens up with microphones, a transmitter where police could listen in, and a video camera hidden in a key fob, and planned out a sting operation to recover the potential murder weapon. "Those two young men contacted us and asked if they could help us get what they believed to be the murder weapon back," Merritt told "20/20." Under the glow from the streetlight, he said, they could see that it was Gaul. I love you forever and always. He just looked confused. When it comes to school spirit, few can bring it more than Southeast High School junior Jaziah Rowe, and she has to. Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies. Sheriffs officials said Walker was found dead of a gunshot wound inside her house Monday morning. Around Halloween that year, Walkers parents decided to ground her - not allowing her to leave the house except to go to school and cheerleading. Were extremely proud of all the investigators and all the work but were almost more proud of Noah and Alex in this, Knox County Sheriffs Office Major Mike MacLean said, calling the teens the heroes of the investigation. The Central High Emma was bright and fun and soon attracted the attention of stand-out wide receiver Riley Gaul. Officials said evidence at the scene indicted Gaul fired shots into her bedroom from outside the house while she slept. 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.. 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. Check out never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! Johnson trials to retire at year's end. When news of her tragic death spread, Gaul was quick to memorialize his ex-girlfriend on Facebook. 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. James Hurst told 20/20. When we got into the interview room and sat down, I felt like there was a dark side. I love you more than words can describe, said another. We understand the need of every single client. "And (Sunday night) I used one of my friends' phones on campus to call her. Friends and family crowded the schools football stands during a vigil at later that night. The officer was transported to UT Medical center. Watch Later. "To an investigator, that tells me that the two shots were more than likely fired by the same suspect," he said. "But she said if I would help her write her paper, she would talk to me," Gaul told detectives. I walked in, photographed the interior of the residence. But then she texted her friends, saying a stranger was at her doorstep. You will find that we have the finest range of products. Friends described really dramatic arguments between the two, often over text message or Snapchat posts. A preliminary hearing has been set for Dec. 2. Because he had a way of isolating her and making her think that he was the only one.. Thats because, we at the Vending Service are there to extend a hand of help. "He sounded like he'd been crying or he was sounding fatigued, I guess," Walton told "20/20." Chad Griffin, 15, and Josh Matthews, 14, said that they were sitting about 10 feet away from the victim and talking when they heard a sharp noise. Her family describes her as a positive person who always saw the best in people. Soon, the cheerleader's social media accounts were filled with pictures of a seemingly perfect pair paddle boarding together, embracing and taking silly selfies. A little after 6:00 a.m. on Monday, Nov. 21, 2016, Jill Walker went into her daughters room but she couldnt wake her up. For years together, we have been addressing the demands of people in and around Noida. "I told him, 'Obviously not and not to ever ask me anything like that again.' He quickly came to her aid and searched the house and neighborhood but found no signs of the hooded figure. "He got shot and started walking and he was holding his chest. WebMarch 20, 2000 - November 21, 2016Emma Jane Walker, age 16, of Knoxville, went to be with Lord November 21, 2016. The judge denied his request citing a lack of evidence. When Gaul killed Walker, he forever disrupted their lives, they say in victim impact statements. Stone raised numerous reasons why his client should be acquitted or given another trial including the jury not being sequestered for a case that drew national attention, a crime scene photograph of Watson, objection to coverage by Law and Crime and McGee's refusal to toss some of the grand jury's counts against Gaul. Our community was blessed to know her.". He knows he's not allowed here, Jill Walker said. Walking around outside the home, he eventually found a second bullet hole on a different side the house at approximately the same height as the first. The Knox County Sheriff's Office reported that Walker had broken off a relationship with Gaul two weeks before they said he fired a 9 mm handgun into Walker's bedroom. She did become like her old self again, her father Mark Walker said. / CBS/AP. Her dad, Mark Walker, recalled hearing a loud noise the night she died Nov. 21, 2016. If you are looking for a reputed brand such as the Atlantis Coffee Vending Machine Noida, you are unlikely to be disappointed. For more information, please see Ms. Bri Dowis in the cafeteria during your lunch or in the guidance office. She was a cheerleader and student at Central High School. Her mother said she loved animals and wanted to be a NICU nurse, so the family has since gotten a dog park and a NICU patient room at East Tennessee Childrens Hospital named after her. Knoxville Mayor Indya Kincannon said she visited the officer who was shot at Austin-East Magnet High School and said he was in good spirits.. Emma and Gaul dated on and off for two years. Maryville already has completed its season. "He was just like, 'No, no cops. Her 21st birthday would have been this week, 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, "It can happen to anybody" | Mother raises awareness about teen dating violence and abuse, Mom raises awareness about verbal abuse, domestic violence, HOPE for Victims holds vigil calling for friendship, hope and support for victims of domestic violence. ", "I just tried to wake my daughter for school," Jill Walker told the 911 operator. He would just wait outside for hours, Hutton said. The family will receive friends from noon until 3 pm. Depending on your choice, you can also buy our Tata Tea Bags. "At that point, I knew that it probably was not a suicide," she added. He called his friend Noah Walton and told him he had been kidnapped that night, but Walton didnt believe a word of it. "I think when they become quiet and withdrawn, it's a big sign too. Friends and family of Emma Walker are invited to Central Baptist Church of Fountain City. He then located two shell casings outside the home, so he knew two shots had been fired. I love you. "I said to Emma, don't you find it odd that Riley was involved, or appeared at both events. "She just told me a bunch of cruel stuff, and she blocked his (friend's) number.". The YouCaring account says, "Our hearts are heavy with the tragic loss of Emma Walker of Fountain City, Knoxville. But then after a while was when we got kind of concerned.. (Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. 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. It sounded like someone was in the house and opened a door and slammed it, he told Dateline: Secrets Uncovered." In one tweet, he wrote, "Rest easy now sweetheart. This is insane, Noah can be heard saying in the recording as they head to meet Gaul. Then, "Go alone," said another, and another said, "I've got someone you love. Boy next door, her mother Jill Walker said. "When I first got there, I started my photographs on the outside of the residence. [Gaul] he didn't really talk to us, her friends, a lot, she said. "Once the detective got there, we were asked to leave the residence," Jill Walker said. The officer apparently said he would have rather it be him who was shot than someone else. The following morning, Walker went home. You already know how simple it is to make coffee or tea from these premixes. "If your boyfriend or girlfriend is telling (you) you can't go there, or what to wear, or who to hang out with, or who to talk to. He was convicted of her death and was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole. 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. Thats my beautiful Emma. For more high school stories, stats and videos, visit http://usatodayhss.com. Matthews said he thought it was a fake at first but then realized the shooting was real. We, on one occasion, saw one [that said] Ill see your name in the obituary, Jill Walker said. Notifications can be turned off anytime in the browser settings. Colors: Red, Black Google Map Championship History. TV networks and People magazine were among the news outlets nationally that reported and covered the case. 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. He was a little nerdy on the side, said Zach Greene, one of Walker's friends. 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. The text messages, however, became more menacing, Greene said. Officials said evidence at the scene indicted Gaul fired shots into her bedroom 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. The operation was a success and Gaul was arrested. Above all, Emma was a beloved daughter, sister, family member, and friend. His friends witnessed his mood swings. Leave me alone,'" he said. "He's trying to get her attention to talk to him. A video appears to show an individual in handcuffs being led away from Austin-East Magnet High School in handcuffs in the wake of a mass shooting that left multiple people injured. In one post, Walker wrote, Look how lucky I am.. 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. As of 9 a.m. Wednesday, the fund has raised $1,408 of the $20,000 goal. Jurors saw video of police interrogating William Riley Gaul, who is accused of killing Emma Walker, a high school cheerleader, in her sleep. Create a free profile to get unlimited access to exclusive videos, breaking news, sweepstakes, and more! While a part of the package is offered free of cost, the rest of the premix, you can buy at a throwaway price. Notifications can be turned off anytime in the browser settings. Clientele needs differ, while some want Coffee Machine Rent, there are others who are interested in setting up Nescafe Coffee Machine. 2 Vols to series-clinching win over Zags, Pickens perfect game highlights day two of the Tennessee Classic, Knoxville utilities crews work to restore power after intense storms, Missing elderly Knoxville woman last seen at hospital, police say. The shooting happened shortly after 8 a.m. at the Central High School cafeteria, Chief Deputy Bill Roehl said, and the suspected shooter was taken into custody minutes later on a nearby street. Upon approach of the subject, shots were fired, police said in a statement. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Police were sent to the Walker house. I was worried and we were watching her, Jill Walker said. At first, the relationship seemed just kind of normal," said Keegan Lyle, one of Walker's best friends. He was a high school football player, she was a cheerleader in Knoxville, Tenn. At Central High School in Knoxville, Tennessee, a Friday night in autumn means a football stadium bathed in lights and two teams battling it out on the gridiron in front of a sea of red and black -- everyone decked out in support of the home team, the Bobcats. He was sentenced to life in prison. One message in particular alarmed Walkers mother. Walkers parents decided to ban Gaul from their home and they took away their daughters cellphone to try to stop the teens from communicating, but it didnt work. By fall 2016, Emma Walker and Gaul were still dating. He made the comments as he began a briefing on education, and asked for prayers for the victims and their families. ", "What stood out to me from these tweets immediately was the repetitive nature of him saying, 'I love you. Photo: Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. WebWhy Investigators Realized Emma Walkers Death Was Murder It had been just like any other night. 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. Knoxville Central High School. He chose not to accept her wishes.. 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. Police said the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation would lead the probe into the shooting, while the A little to himself from the outside looking in, you'd think he was just a normal guy.. She would come out of her room, eat dinner with us, and socialize with us., Walker had even texted her friend Keegan Lyle to say she and Gaul were done for good., She just came to the realization that she deserved better, Lyle said. Emma, Im sorry for however I act, one message from Gaul said. WebKNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) Riley Gaul, the college football player convicted of murdering Central High School cheerleader Emma Walker in 2016, has filed a motion for a new trial. He got more possessive and more clingy towards her, and wouldnt let her do certain things, Lauren Hutton added. We also offer the Coffee Machine Free Service. And then he fell and his arm hit me," Griffin said. Im coming Im speeding just give me a minute, Gaul texted her back. This is an application-based program. Her daughter was visibly shaken, and thought it could have been a burglar or maybe even a stalker. Greene said that Walker thought it was one of Gaul's friends playing a prank on her, but that she texted back, threatening to call the police. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Young Williams Animal Shelter or to the Emma Walker Memorial Fund. Gaul told detectives he had been trying to speak with Walker that weekend, but she wouldn't engage with him. So following Emmas death, they told detectives a secret Gaul had shared with his friend, Alex McCarty, the day after Gaul's alleged kidnapping. "We finally get to him and he's pulling up his head, kind of, has this confused face on," Greene said. Coffee premix powders make it easier to prepare hot, brewing, and enriching cups of coffee. He reassured me over and over again that he was the farthest thing from suicidal. The team had just six cheerleaders to start the school year at Southeast High. 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. One bullet had hit her behind her left ear and the second had lodged into her pillow. 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