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Perfectly Aimed Bullet: The Deadly Stalking of Emma Walker

Love turned fatal when cheerleader Emma Walker was shot dead through her bedroom wall.

Rivy Lyon
5 min readAug 16, 2023
Emma Jane “Em” Walker. Findagrave

In the fall of 2016, the students and faculty in the halls of Central High School in Knoxville, Tennessee were celebrating their football team’s victory over a rival school. Among those celebrating were 16-year-old cheerleader, Emma Walker, and her ex-boyfriend, 18-year-old William Riley Gaul.

Emma’s relationship with Riley would soon be entangled in a web of stalking, obsession, and unexpected violence.

Just a few weeks before, Emma had decided to end her on-again, off-again relationship with the popular football player. But instead of accepting the breakup, Riley became possessive of Emma, trying desperate acts to guilt her into coming back to him.

High school footballer William Gaul was Emma Walker’s ex-boyfriend. Facebook

One day, Emma’s phone suddenly lit up with a threatening message. The text was from an unknown number, and the stranger on the other end told the teen that someone she cared for was in danger. They warned her of the serious consequences she would face if she didn’t listen and follow their instructions.

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Rivy Lyon
Rivy Lyon

Written by Rivy Lyon

Investigative Journalist | Criminology, psychology & sociology B.A. | I’ve loved true crime since Forensic Files was Medical Detectives!

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