It had initially been scheduled for December 4. The account says the 16-year-old's dream was to become a nurse. He and Walker went outside and sure enough, he said, they found "a body lying face down" in a ditch near the house. You will find that we have the finest range of products. Then we're all like, yes finally, it's happening. We're like, What we've been waiting for.. The cafeteria was a popular place to gather before classes started at 8:30 a.m., students said. But, as he was describing this in the interrogation room, Merritt said Gaul was "emotionless. "He never intended to cause her harm, never intended to cause her death," Wesley Stone, Gaul's attorney, told "20/20" exclusively. It's not just bruises, it's emotional and controlling. His friends witnessed his mood swings. 'Dateline' profiles murder of Knox cheerleader Emma Jane Walker At the time of the murder, Gaul was attending Maryville College. He quickly came to her aid and searched the house and neighborhood but found no signs of the hooded figure. Walker was a student at Central High School in Knoxville, Tennessee, where she was reportedly a cheerleader. 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, Tenn. --A football player at Division III Maryville College in Tennessee faces a first-degree murder charge in the shooting death of a 16-year-old girl who had reportedly recently broken up with him. Once there, Gaul said, he broke down and cried for "two, three hours" in his car over breaking up with Walker. Tennessee Governor Bill Lee acknowledged the shooting at Austin-East Magnet High School in a statement, calling it a very difficult and tragic situation.. "He was a good kid who was dealt some bad cards in life.". He made the comments as he began a briefing on education, and asked for prayers for the victims and their families. He didn't have a whole lot of passion or concern.. He denied showing it to McCarty and also denied asking Walton about removing fingerprints from a gun. When Knox County Sheriff's Lt. Allen Merritt arrived on the scene, he said he started looking at the outside of the house and noticed a bullet hole in the wall that was "about shoulder high.". In one post, Walker wrote, Look how lucky I am.. Your guests may need piping hot cups of coffee, or a refreshing dose of cold coffee. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Emma Walker was shot by Riley Gaul, her ex-boyfriend, as she slept in her North Get an all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! Here also, we are willing to provide you with the support that you need. Then on Friday, Nov. 18, 2016, Walker was allowed to attend a gathering at a friends house. Emma really took cheerleading seriously, said Lauren Hutton, who was a senior on the squad when she met Walker and the two became good friends. Link your TV provider to stream full episodes and live TV. He then located two shell casings outside the home, so he knew two shots had been fired. They said they dropped Riley outside.'". On Thursday, Mr Lee signed a bill allowing gun owners over the age of 21 to carry firearms, open or concealed, without the need for a permit or training. She had a smile that could light up the room, a big, beautiful smile, Jill said. The Knox County Sheriff's Office reports that on Monday, Nov. 21, at 6:29 a.m., Gaul fired a gun into Walker's bedroom while she was asleep, hitting and killing her. 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. He says the officers encountered him in a bathroom and ordered him out but he wouldnt comply. Walker's friends and family were devastated. Maryville coach Shaun Hayes said through a spokesman that Gaul has been dismissed from the football program. 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. Police were sent to the Walker house. "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. 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. The community around Central KCSO: Central High School cheerleader shot twice through Because he had a way of isolating her and making her think that he was the only one.. But I was just like, Oh he's shy it just seemed normal. 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. Knox News reported that a source speaking to them on the condition of anonymity said police have detained a suspect. One bullet had hit her behind her left ear and the second had lodged into her pillow. 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. Out in front of the crowd, the marching band and cheerleaders keep the energy high, and in the fall of 2014, there was a new face on the cheerleading squad a spirited 14-year-old freshman named Emma Walker. He chose not to accept her wishes.. But then she texted her friends, saying a stranger was at her doorstep. Central High School She also received a call from Gaul, who was screaming and begging her for help, according to the show. 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 Gaul was transported this week from prison to Knox County custody. They'd had a tumultuous relationship while dating, court records show. November 23, 2016 / 3:49 PM 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. One man was killed and a police officer injured at a Tennessee high school shooting on Monday afternoon. 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. It appeared she had been shot from outside the It almost seemed rehearsed, deliberate," Merritt told "20/20.". The Knoxville County Sheriffs Department issued a statement to local broadcaster WBLT saying there was no active threat at Austin-East Magnet High School following a mass shooting that left multiple people wounded, including a Knoxville Police Department officer. Coffee premix powders make it easier to prepare hot, brewing, and enriching cups of coffee. Her sudden death initially seemed to be a mystery, but investigators ultimately discovered a bullet hole in the bedroom wall, suggesting that as the 16-year-old was sleeping, someone crept up outside the home and fired two bullets into the side of the house before sneaking away virtually unnoticed. We understand the need of every single client. Incident | Gun Violence Archive "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.". Emma Jane Walker: The Murder Of A 16-Year-Old High School When Walker's parents first met Gaul, they said their first impressions of him were positive. A memorial fund has been set up for Emma. He just looked confused. Emma Walker was shot by Riley Gaul, her ex-boyfriend, as she slept in her North Knox County home. Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims family and friends and other individuals affected by this tragedy, Maryville athletic department spokesman Chris Cannon said in a statement. I want to hurt myself.' The arrangement didnt sit well with Emmas parents, but Emma could be stubborn. Lyle said friends told Walker that they didnt like the way Gaul treated her, but she just kind of brushed it off, Lyle said. Sign up forOxygen Insiderfor all the best true crime content. Jurors saw video of police interrogating William Riley Gaul, who is accused of killing Emma Walker, a high school cheerleader, in her sleep. 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. As a host, you should also make arrangement for water. 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. 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. But then after a while was when we got kind of concerned.. Under the glow from the streetlight, he said, they could see that it was Gaul. A little to himself from the outside looking in, you'd think he was just a normal guy.. College football player charged in high school cheerleader's slaying The suspect that was led away in handcuffs is reportedly being detained for questioning regarding the incident. The YouCaring account says, "Our hearts are heavy with the tragic loss of Emma Walker of Fountain City, Knoxville. Around Halloween that year, Walkers parents decided to ground her - not allowing her to leave the house except to go to school and cheerleading. The next morning Emma was dead. It doesn't even need to be for anyone people know personally. Riley Gaul asks for new trial in cheerleader's murder | wbir.com 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.. It was just very weird.". 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. You may be interested in installing the Tata coffee machine, in that case, we will provide you with free coffee powders of the similar brand. WebPipeLine is a free academic mentoring program at Central High School. 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. Friends described really dramatic arguments between the two, often over text message or Snapchat posts. He's like, 'I don't know what happened' I don't know how I got here. Walked into the bedroom photographed the bedroom," Bules said. 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. 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. ", Alex McCarty and Noah Walton are seen here during an interview with ABC News' "20/20.". He came in very polite, very nice in the beginning. The 16-year-old was shot in All Rights Reserved. The plan went off without a hitch and investigators took Gaul into custody that night. So following Emmas death, they told detectives a secret Gaul had shared with his friend, Alex McCarty, the day after Gaul's alleged kidnapping. Thus far there have been 130 mass shootings since the start of 2021, more than during the same period in 2018, 2019 and 2020. 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. By: Logan Newman. WebSheriffs officials said Walker was found dead of a gunshot wound inside her house Monday morning. Police said the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation would lead the probe into the shooting, while the The following morning, Walker went home. ), Student killed in shooting at Knoxville school, Judge sets bond for 76-year-old woman accused of killing terminally ill husband. Gauls close friends, Alex and Noah, reached out the sheriffs office after Gaul had confided in them that he needed to dispose of his grandfathers gun and needed their help to toss the gun into the Tennessee River. He was just so scared of these people who were out to get him, were out to get Emma.". It's been in just everything about him. 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. We also offer the Coffee Machine Free Service. First published on November 23, 2016 / 3:49 PM. Emma Walker's Mom Speaks About Daughter's Knoxville Murder Colors: Red, Black Google Map Championship History. Upon approach of the subject, shots were fired, police said in a statement. Since her death, Emma Walkers family has tried to keep her legacy alive. "He tried to have a tough exterior, like a shield, to fit in," his uncle Roger McDonald said. Grief counselors were on hand at Central High on Tuesday. Maryville already has completed its season. I walked in, photographed the interior of the residence. 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. Knoxville Police on the scene of a shooting at Austin-East Magnet High School, Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged in, Please refresh your browser to be logged in, One killed and another detained in Knoxville school shooting, One killed and another detained for questioning in school shooting that wounded police officer, Four Austin-East students killed by gun violence in past four months, Knoxville mayor says officer wounded with non-life threatening was in good spirits, Video shows handcuffed individual being led away from Knoxville high school, Extra 20% off selected fashion and sportswear at Very, Up to 20% off & extra perks with Booking.com Genius Membership, $6 off a $50+ order with this AliExpress discount code, 10% off selected orders over 100 - eBay discount code, Compare broadband packages side by side to find the best deal for you, Compare cheap broadband deals from providers with fastest speed in your area, All you need to know about fibre broadband, Best Apple iPhone Deals in the UK March 2023, Compare iPhone contract deals and get the best offer this March, Compare the best mobile phone deals from the top networks and brands.