He's like, 'I don't know what happened' I don't know how I got here. Detectives asked Gaul about the gun, but he told them he didn't know where it was. Knox County Sheriffs Office officials announced Wednesday that William Riley Gaul, a freshman wide receiver, was arrested in connection with the death of Emma Walker. 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. Police in Knoxville issued a tweet saying they have established a reunification site at a baseball field behind Austin-East Magnet High School in the wake of a shooting that left multiple people, including a police officer, injured. 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. She said Gaul started waiting for Walker outside of the supermarket where she worked. WebPipeLine is a free academic mentoring program at Central High School. Welcome to The Independents rolling coverage of a mass shooting at a high school in Knoxville, Tennessee. One man was pronounced dead at the scene while another was detained for questioning, the statement said. A jury found Riley Gaul guilty of Emma Walker's murder, and he was sentenced to life in prison. Emma Walkers Friends Say She Was Stalked, Why Investigators Realized Emma Walkers Death Was Murder. For every nasty message Gaul sent Walker, there was also a quick apology. Should you be?, the detective responded. "And then looked at her face and realized and checked for a pulse and couldn't find anything. And going way overboard to do that," she added. Law enforcement says the situation is no longer considered active.. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Young Williams Animal Shelter or to the Emma Walker Memorial Fund. "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.". Walked into the bedroom photographed the bedroom," Bules said. Varsity Boys Wrestling Multi-team Event. Riley Gaul continued to repeatedly contact Emma Walker after their breakup. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. It's not OK," she said. She was a junior at Central High School, a member of the 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. Knox County Sheriff's Deputy Nikki Bules, the lead forensic technician on the case, said the call originally came in as a possible suicide. Just hours after calling law enforcement authorities, the 18-year-olds were ready to carry out the plan. https://usatodayhss.com/2016/college-football-player-charged-with-murder-in-death-of-high-school-cheerleader, College football player charged with murder in death of high school 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. 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. I walked in, photographed the interior of the residence. Friends and family crowded the schools football stands during a vigil at later that night. Gaul told detectives he had been trying to speak with Walker that weekend, but she wouldn't engage with him. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. 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. Gaul said he thought he had spent Friday night at his friend Noah Waltons house. When news of her tragic death spread, Gaul was quick to memorialize his ex-girlfriend on Facebook. Maryville coach Shaun Hayes said through a spokesman that Gaul has been dismissed from the football program. Ex-college football player on trial for ex-girlfriend's murder. WebLaw enforcement officials would eventually determine that Emma had been killed in her sleep, shot with a 9mm handgun in the early hours that morning. A video circulating online appeared to show an individual in handcuffs being led away from the school. When Gaul killed Walker, he forever disrupted their lives, they say in victim impact statements. Notes. The operation was a success and Gaul was arrested. The officer apparently said he would have rather it be him who was shot than someone else. Knoxville, TN. Under the glow from the streetlight, he said, they could see that it was Gaul. Photo: 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. 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.. KANSAS CITY, Mo. Maryville College is cooperating fully with the Knox County Sheriffs Department in this investigation. 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. But I was just like, Oh he's shy it just seemed normal. 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. 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 WebThe 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, 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. Calendar. In the state of Tennessee, a first-degree murder conviction carries an automatic life sentence. Example video title will go here for this video. Purple armbands honor murdered Central High cheerleader at state football playoff game Authorities apparently decided Gaul was a prime suspect early in the probe. Her family describes her as a positive person who always saw the best in people. Every day for the rest of his life, wherever that may be, he will have to live with that reality. (Knoxville Police Department) One man was killed and a police officer injured at a Tennessee high school shooting on Monday afternoon. His trial date on charges related to the death of 16-year-old Emma Walker was set for April 30. 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. I sat in the parking lot, just looking at pictures of us, he claimed. She said, no it wasn't him Mom, it wasn't him," Jill told "20/20.". "He sounded like he'd been crying or he was sounding fatigued, I guess," Walton told "20/20." Again I am sorry.". "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's a prisoner in the Northwest Correctional Complex in Tiptonville. "Go to your car with your keys," said one text message. "(On Fridays) everybody's excited at school to see how well we do. We ensure that you get the cup ready, without wasting your time and effort. I found this story on USA TODAY High School Sports and wanted to share it with you: According to local news outlet WBIR 10, an anonymous source told reporters that the suspect in the shooting has been shot and killed. Emma and Gaul dated on and off for two years. "When I first got there, I started my photographs on the outside of the residence. 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. Jurors saw video of police interrogating William Riley Gaul, who is accused of killing Emma Walker, a high school cheerleader, in her sleep. The account says the 16-year-old's dream was to become a nurse. 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. She said she didnt care about the relationship anymore.. "I took off running and ran outside and called my mom," Matthews said. When it comes to school spirit, few can bring it more than Southeast High School junior Jaziah Rowe, and she has to. "He never intended to cause her harm, never intended to cause her death," Wesley Stone, Gaul's attorney, told "20/20" exclusively. You can have multiple cup of coffee with the help of these machines.We offer high-quality products at the rate which you can afford. While in his college dorm room, he swallowed a bunch of Vicodin pills and washed them down with alcohol in an attempt to commit suicide. Matthews said he thought it was a fake at first but then realized the shooting was real. It appeared she had been shot from outside the The next morning Emma was dead. The police officer was taken to UT Medical Centre with non-life-threatening injuries, and not other gunshot wounds were reported. By: Logan Newman. ", Stone also said Gaul denies being the mysterious "man dressed in black.". Create your free profile and get access to exclusive content. "I told him, 'Obviously not and not to ever ask me anything like that again.' 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. 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. He said the school officials were working to get information to families as quickly as possible. 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 I could see her like yelling at him, like Whats going on? and she was really angry, her friend Kegan later told Canning. Friends described him as a jokester, not the classic jock type. He was just so scared of these people who were out to get him, were out to get Emma.". 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. In one post, Walker wrote, Look how lucky I am.. Rest easy now sweetheart, he wrote in one message. 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. If you are throwing a tea party, at home, then, you need not bother about keeping your housemaid engaged for preparing several cups of tea or coffee. Irrespective of the kind of premix that you invest in, you together with your guests will have a whale of a time enjoying refreshing cups of beverage. The judge denied his request citing a lack of evidence. But then she texted her friends, saying a stranger was at her doorstep. / CBS/AP. Its like a nightmare, Emma Watson's mother said after discovering her 16-year-old dead in bed in November 2016. Authorities portrayed him as a jealous and possessive ex-boyfriend who harassed Walker. Thus far there have been 130 mass shootings since the start of 2021, more than during the same period in 2018, 2019 and 2020. Although Gaul, who was two years older, already had a girlfriend of his own, he promised Emma that he would break up with her. Just go through our Coffee Vending Machines Noida collection. She did become like her old self again, her father Mark Walker said. All Right Reserved. Tennessee Governor Bill Lee acknowledged the shooting at Austin-East Magnet High School in a statement, calling it a very difficult and tragic situation.. 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 he said, 'I know. We are proud to offer the biggest range of coffee machines from all the leading brands of this industry. "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. The school has a recent history of gun violence among its current and former students. He was very likable., I thought he was a very nice looking young man, well-mannered, her father Mark Walker added. "He was just like, 'No, no cops. 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. One message in particular alarmed Walkers mother. 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. Vending Services (Noida)Shop 8, Hans Plaza (Bhaktwar Mkt. First published on November 23, 2016 / 3:49 PM. 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.. Riley gave Emma an iPod Touch and she texted him through the WiFi, Walkers friend Seth Armstrong said. "So obviously it had turned into a crime scene at that point. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Since her death, Emma Walkers family has tried to keep her legacy alive. The team had just six cheerleaders to start the school year at Southeast High. The Emma Walker Memorial Fund can be found, or by following the link https://www.youcaring.com/theemmawalkermemorialfundforfuneralexpenses-698574. William Riley Gaul appeared in Knox County Criminal Court on Friday morning to make his case. She ran out of the house and found Gaul standing outside. Twitter; Tennessee Department of Corrections, For more on this case and others like it, watch. Create a free profile to get unlimited access to exclusive videos, breaking news, sweepstakes, and more! The family will receive friends from noon until 3 pm. The 16-year-old was shot in Police said in the tweet that the situation was still active, contradicting earlier information claiming that she situation was no longer active. Sign up forOxygen Insiderfor all the best true crime content. 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 Web1:07 William Riley Gaul will serve no extra prison time besides a mandatory life sentence for killing his ex-girlfriend, Central High School honor student and cheerleader Emma Walker. 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 Emmas parents say their house immediately felt calmer, but the sense of peace wouldnt last for long. "He tried to have a tough exterior, like a shield, to fit in," his uncle Roger McDonald said. November 23, 2016 / 3:49 PM As of 9 a.m. Wednesday, the fund has raised $1,408 of the $20,000 goal. The machines that we sell or offer on rent are equipped with advanced features; as a result, making coffee turns out to be more convenient, than before. Im coming Im speeding just give me a minute, Gaul texted her back. 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. Detectives brought Gaul in for questioning on Monday about his whereabouts during the previous 72 hours. For years together, we have been addressing the demands of people in and around Noida. (KMBC) - A Kansas City high school only has one cheerleader to rev up the crowd at sporting events but shes getting the job done. "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's been in his heart. 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. Jill, however, wasn't convinced. Then, "Go alone," said another, and another said, "I've got someone you love. "There was a hole in the wall. Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Youre dead to me Ill check the obituary ---- you, Gaul wrote. Thinking Gaul was lying to authorities, Walton and McCarty then collaborated with police to help them lay a trap. And then he fell and his arm hit me," Griffin said. A memorial fund has been set up for Emma. The text messages, however, became more menacing, Greene said. Gaul has decades left to serve for killing Walker. We also offer the Coffee Machine Free Service. 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. I just told her, um, how much I loved her, and, uh, that I was sorry she didnt want what we had anymore, he said in an interrogation tape. I love you forever and always. Emma texted with her friend Keegan Lyle about a homework assignment, then went to bed a little after midnight. KNOXVILLE, Tenn. A grieving family is asking everyone to take a moment on Wednesday to honor a teen killed in 2016. 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. Norfolk Southern train derails in Springfield, Ohio, At least 12 dead after winter storm slams South, Midwest, Trump speaks at CPAC after winning straw poll, Memphis Grizzlies star Ja Morant to "take some time away" from the team after allegedly brandishing a gun in a club, How Paul Murdaugh testified "from the grave" to help convict his father, Man charged for alleged involvement in 2 transformer explosions, Promising drug could provide alternative to statins, new study finds, Iran to allow more inspections at nuclear sites, U.N. says, NTSB to investigate in-flight turbulence that left 1 passenger dead, William Riley Gaul, left, and Emma Walker, right, The crime scene evidence that convicted Alex Murdaugh, Colombia wants to deport "cocaine hippos" to stop them from multiplying, 3 children killed, 2 others wounded at Texas home, How a tragic boating crash is connected to the family of Alex Murdaugh. Someone dropped me off here' I don't know what's happening' Where am I? The suspect that was led away in handcuffs is reportedly being detained for questioning regarding the incident. It had initially been scheduled for December 4. Seemingly dejected, Gaul walked off down the street, alone. In one tweet, he wrote, "Rest easy now sweetheart. She was a cheerleader at Central High School and shared her smile with the entire Bobcat Nation. Gaul's grandfather, who had kept the gun in his car, had reported the 9mm handgun missing prior to Gaul being questioned. "This wasn't a shooting that was a random act," Roehl said. Raised by his mother and grandparents, Gaul was a top student and loved to play video games. A memorial fund has been set up for Emma. 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. Click here for more details on Pipeline. 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 Varsity Coed Basketball. "I said to Emma, don't you find it odd that Riley was involved, or appeared at both events. Then on Friday, Nov. 18, 2016, Walker was allowed to attend a gathering at a friends house. But then after a while was when we got kind of concerned.. 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.