Walker - Bad Sporters

NBA player Lonnie Walker IV shaved his head and explained that he used his signature locks as a mask to cope with his childhood sexual abuse

admin — Fri, 12 Jun 2020 21:25:22 +0000

Lonnie Walker IV of the San Antonio Spurs cut off his famous “pineapple” hair during the quarantine.
The second-year shooting guard revealed that he had grown his hair out since the fifth grade as a “cloaking device” to cope with the sexual abuse he endured as a kid.
“Me cutting my hair was more than a cut,” Walker wrote on Instagram. “My hair was a mask of me hiding the insecurities that I felt the world wasn’t ready for. But now better then ever. Out with old. In with the new.”

Lonnie Walker IV chopped off his famous, sky-high locks.

The second-year San Antonio Spurs shooting guard posted a video to his Instagram of a barber buzzing off his “pineapple” hairstyle, which Walker had been growing out since he was in fifth grade. The 21-year-old also debuted his new, close-shaved look, but it was his explanation of the motivation behind his fresh cut that shocked the NBA world.

Lonnie Walker IV.Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports

In a lengthy caption posted alongside the haircutting video, Walker revealed that he had been sexually harassed, raped, and abused as a child and that he had long been using his signature hairdo as a “cloaking device.”

“I was a gullible curious kid that didn’t know what the real world was,” Walker wrote. “I had a mindset that my hair was something that I can control. My hair was what I can make and create and be mine. And it gave my confidence.”

Lonnie Walker IV dribbles for the San Antonio Spurs.Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

Walker further explained that he had been struggling with “history popping up” in recent months but managed to use quarantine as an opportunity to reset and better himself mentally and emotionally.

“Because of this virus, I began to truly look at myself in the mirror and see who I truly was even behind closed doors,” Walker wrote. “Long story short I have found peace and internal happiness through this journey.”

Lonnie Walker IV (right) and San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich.Daniel Dunn-USA TODAY Sports

The budding star said he’s learned to forgive people — even those who don’t deserve it — because carrying around negative energy is “dead weight.”

“Me cutting my hair was more than a cut,” Walker wrote. “My hair was a mask of me hiding the insecurities that I felt the world wasn’t ready for. But now better then ever. Out with old. In with the new.”

“I have shed my skin mentally, emotionally, physically, and spiritually,” he added. “Life will always be hard. Gotta play with the cards your [sic] dealt with and try and make a winning hand.”Advertisement

Check out the full video of Walker’s haircut below:

The real truth as to why i started doing this early 5th grade, it was a cloaking device for me. During the summer of my 5th grade year I was around more family. Some that names will be left alone I was around more. I was sexually harassed, raped, abused, I even got accustomed to it because being at that age you don’t know what is what. I was a gullible curious kid that didn’t know what the real world was. I had a mindset that my hair was something that I can control. My hair was what I can make and create and be mine. And it gave my confidence. As of recently I wasn’t at my best. Previous History popping up in my head and it sucked mentally “demons”….. because of this virus, I began to truly look at myself in the mirror and see who I truly was even behind closed doors. Long story short I have found peace and internal happiness through this journey god willingly. I forgave everyone even the people that don’t deserve it why? Because it’s dead weight. Time doesn’t wait on anyone so why should I waste my time on it ? Me cutting my hair was more than a cut. My hair was a mask of me hiding the insecurity’s that I felt the world wasn’t ready for. But now better then ever. Out with old. In with the new. I have shed my skin mentally, emotionally, physically, and spiritually. Life will always be hard. Gotta play with the cards your dealt with and try and make a winning hand. And if you lose. It’s never a lost. It’s a lesson . I’m gonna be off this for awhile still growing through this. Just know I love each and everyone one of y’all. Peace love and happiness

A post shared by Lonnie Walker IV (@buddah) on Jun 11, 2020 at 5:52pm PDTJun 11, 2020 at 5:52pm PDT

Source link

The post NBA player Lonnie Walker IV shaved his head and explained that he used his signature locks as a mask to cope with his childhood sexual abuse first appeared on Bad Sporters.

Commonwealth's attorney recommends dismissing Kenneth Walker case for now

admin — Fri, 22 May 2020 21:06:48 +0000

Jefferson County’s top prosecutor has filed a motion to dismiss the case against Kenneth Walker, at least for now.Walker was boyfriend to Breonna Taylor, who died during an LMPD narcotics raid in March.MORE: What we know about the death of Breonna TaylorWalker was also at the apartment that night, and police say he fired his gun and struck a police officer.He is facing charges in connection with the shooting. A motion to dismiss the case alleges police presented misleading information to the grand jury. While Commonwealth’s Attorney Thomas Wine said he strongly disagrees with that analysis, he does believe more should have been presented to the grand jury.That being said, Wine is directing his office to dismiss the case for now. He says additional, independent investigating needs to be done by the Attorney General, the FBI and the U.S. Attorney’s office.During the news conference, he played audio from both Walker and Sgt. Mattingly, who was shot that night. Both described what happened in their own words.LISTEN TO ALL AUDIO IN THE PLAYER ABOVE “The statements dovetail very well as to the number of knocks, what was going on, the efforts to breach the door and what happened once that door opened,” Wine said.Read this thread from WLKY’s Deni Kamper for more details about what happened during the news conference:Asked whether is was possible no one would be charged in the case, Wine said, “What separated these two parties was a door. And it’s very possible that there was no criminal activity on either side of that door because people couldn’t hear what the other party was saying.” Attorney Ben Crump, who is representing Taylor’s family, released a statement on Wine’s choice to request dismissal.It said, in part, “While dismissing the charges is the right thing to do, it comes more than two months after Breonna was killed and Kenneth was arrested. Louisville police spent these months defending their actions and smearing Kenneth’s and Breonna’s good names. This is just another step to the LMPD taking full responsibility for its actions. They need to get their story straight.” Read the rest of the statement here.WLKY will update this story.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. —

Jefferson County’s top prosecutor is recommending dismissing the case against Kenneth Walker, at least for now.

Walker was boyfriend to Breonna Taylor, who died during an LMPD narcotics raid in March.

MORE: What we know about the death of Breonna Taylor

Walker was also at the apartment that night, and police say he fired his gun and struck a police officer.

He is facing charges in connection with the shooting.

A motion to dismiss the case alleges police presented misleading information to the grand jury. While Commonwealth’s Attorney Thomas Wine said he strongly disagrees with the analysis, he does believe more should have been presented to the grand jury.

That being said, Wine is directing his office to dismiss the case for now. He says additional investigating needs to be done by both LMPD and other agencies.

During the news conference, he played audio from both Walker and Sgt. Mattingly, who was shot that night. Both described what happened in their words.

LISTEN TO ALL AUDIO IN THE PLAYER ABOVE

“The statements dovetail very well as to the number of knocks, what was going on, the efforts to breach the door and what happened once that door opened,” Wine said.

Read this thread from WLKY’s Deni Kamper for more details about what happened during the news conference:

HAPPENING NOW: Commonwealth’s Attorney Tom Wine is holding a press conference on the prosecution of Kenneth Walker. @WLKY

— Deni Kamper (@WLKYDeni) May 22, 2020

Asked whether is was possible no one would be charged in the case, Wine said it is possible there was no criminal activity on either side of that door.

Attorney Ben Crump, representing Taylor’s family released a statement on Wine’s choice to request dismissal.

It said, in part, “While dismissing the charges is the right thing to do, it comes more than two months after Breonna was killed and Kenneth was arrested. Louisville police spent these months defending their actions and smearing Kenneth’s and Breonna’s good names. This is just another step to the LMPD taking full responsibility for its actions. They need to get their story straight.” Read the rest of the statement here.

WLKY will update this story.

Source link

The post Commonwealth's attorney recommends dismissing Kenneth Walker case for now first appeared on Bad Sporters.

Jury finds William Riley Gaul guilty of first-degree murder in shooting of Emma Walker

admin — Wed, 09 May 2018 10:42:48 +0000

Autoplay

Show Thumbnails

Show Captions

Last SlideNext Slide

Buy Photo

William Riley Gaul was convicted of first degree murder Tuesday, May 8, 2018 and taken into custody. Gaul, a former Maryville College football player, was charged in the 2016 shooting death of his 16-year-old ex-girlfriend Emma Jane Walker.(Photo: Michael Patrick/News Sentinel)Buy Photo

No one disputed he fired the shot that killed Emma Jane Walker.

The question for jurors was whether William Riley Gaul pulled the trigger with the intent to kill his 16-year-old cheerleader ex-girlfriend.

After deliberating for four hours Tuesday, a jury said yes, he did, and convicted Gaul, 19, of first-degree murder. He stole his grandfather’s gun and used it to shoot Walker through her bedroom wall as she slept in the Sterchi Hills subdivision of North Knox County on Nov. 21, 2016.

Knox County District Attorney General Charme Allen holds a news conference after a jury convicted William Riley Gaul of first-degree murder in the Nov. 2016 shooting death of his 16-year-old ex-girlfriend Emma Jane Walker.
Travis Dorman, USA TODAY NETWORK – Tennessee

Jurors also found Gaul guilty of stalking, felony murder, tampering with evidence, reckless endangerment, possessing a firearm during a dangerous felony and theft between $500 and $1,000.

Criminal Court Judge Bob McGee imposed a mandatory life sentence for the murder charge. Gaul’s bond was revoked, and he was taken into custody.

Gaul will be eligible for parole after serving 51 years in prison. He would be in his 70s.

William Riley Gaul trial: Suspect complained about ‘cruel’ breakup, doesn’t testify

More: William Riley Gaul fired fatal shots and then slept, testimony showed

More: Defense: William Riley Gaul wanted to be his girlfriend’s hero, not her killer

From texts to gunshots

During closing arguments Tuesday, Gaul’s defense attorney, Wesley Stone, argued his actions were reckless but not murderous.

“This case is about state of mind,” Stone told the jury. “Riley did not mean to hurt her or cause her death. He was trying to get her attention. I’m not saying it’s logical.”

Stone asked the jury to find Gaul, a former Maryville College football player, guilty of reckless homicide — not first-degree murder — for shooting the Central High School cheerleader through her bedroom wall.

Buy Photo

Family members of Emma Walker including her brother, Evan Walker, and mother, Jill Walker, on the right, hug after a jury convicted William Riley Gaul of first-degree murder Tuesday, May 8, 2018. Gaul, a former Maryville College football player, was charged in the 2016 shooting death of his 16-year-old ex-girlfriend Emma Jane Walker. (Photo: Michael Patrick/News Sentinel)

Jurors made their decision without hearing from Gaul in person. He chose not to testify.

Prosecutors said Gaul became obsessed with Walker and wouldn’t take no for an answer when she tried to end their relationship. He and Walker had been texting and calling up until the morning of her death, when two gunshots penetrated her bedroom. One of the bullets struck Walker just behind the ear, killing her. Crime scene evidence suggested she died instantly.

“He was possessive, manipulative, controlling,” said Kevin Allen, a Knox County assistant district attorney general. “He was toxic to her. This was no accident. This is about criminal intent to kill.”

Emma Jane Walker, a Central High School cheerleader, was fatally shot in her bedroom while she slept, according to the Knox County Sheriff’s Office. Her former boyfriend, William Riley Gaul, 19, is charged with first-degree murder in the death of the 16-year-old. (Photo: Submitted)

Gaul and his lawyer admitted he fired the gunshots — not to kill Walker but to scare her and send her running back into his arms. He’d already made other outlandish bids for attention that weekend, including sending Walker anonymous, threatening texts and staging suicide attempts and his own kidnapping.

“My client was her hero,” Stone told the jury. “As crazy and bizarre as it sounds, he was hoping to come to her rescue.”

The bullets came from a 9mm Glock stolen by Gaul from his grandfather’s vehicle. Testimony showed Gaul recruited friends to help him ditch the gun after the shooting, but they had already gone to authorities.

Gaul’s friends secretly recorded him at the behest of Knox County Sheriff’s Office investigators, and he was arrested just as he prepared to toss a trash bag of evidence, including the gun, into the Tennessee River.

Prosecutors pointed out Gaul told one lie after another from the morning of Walker’s death. He denied he took the gun, lied to detectives, asked his friends to lie for him and claimed he’d been in Maryville even though data recovered from his cellphone showed he’d been near Walker’s home when the fatal shot was fired around 3:45 a.m.

“He can’t even kept his alibi straight,” Allen said.

Gaul’s lawyer said he didn’t think the gunshots would penetrate the walls of the bedroom and put Walker in real danger. But Gaul had been in the bedroom, knew where Walker slept and had even shot photos and video there. Investigators concluded the gunshots had been fired from as close as 4 or 5 feet from the bedroom window.

Undercover video of William Riley Gaul talking to friends about disposing of his grandfather’s gun
Michael Patrick/News Sentinel, Michael Patrick/News Sentinel

“You wouldn’t have to spend 10 seconds in that room to know where Emma slept at night and where her head would be,” Allen said.

“His story doesn’t make sense because it isn’t true.”

Read or Share this story: https://knoxne.ws/2rtMfxp

Source link

The post Jury finds William Riley Gaul guilty of first-degree murder in shooting of Emma Walker first appeared on Bad Sporters.