Local News

<< Previous   of   Next >>   ADVERTISEMENT   CONTACT THE HERALD Robert Frank, City Editor frank@heraldnet.com   Published: Wednesday, July 8, 2009 Suspect pleads guilty in killing of homeless man By Diana Hefley Herald Writer EVERETT -- One of the men accused of killing a homeless man over $800 has pleaded guilty to murder. Elmer Orlee Sampson, 47, admitted Tuesday that he participated in the 2008 shooting death of Nicky Schoonover Jr. north of the Tulalip Indian Reservation. Prosecutors initially charged Sampson with first-degree murder. He pleaded guilty Tuesday to second-degree murder and agreed to testify against co- defendant Jamall Baker. Snohomish County deputy prosecutor Tim Geraghty agreed to recommend a low-end sentence in return for Sampson's cooperation in the case against Baker, 33. Sampson's attorney Rob O'Neal told the judge that his client was an accomplice to an assault that led to Schoonover's death. He didn't shoot Schoonover, also known as "Scratchy." Investigators believe Baker was responsible for shooting Schoonover multiple times while the men were at a vacant lot near the reservation. The slain man's body was discovered two days later. Detectives believe Schoonover, 36, was killed for his disability payment. Investigators discovered a check-cashing receipt clenched in his hand. Earlier in the day he'd taken the $800 check to a Money Tree check-cashing business in Everett. Investigators believe Sampson and Baker were with Schoonover. A surveillance video shows Schoonover with the two men at a nearby mini-mart, where they bought gas and food, police said. Detectives believe that later that evening, the three men drove up to the Stanwood area and likely were doing drugs. Sampson faces more than 10 years in prison. Baker remains charged with first-degree murder. He also faces possible drive-by shooting, drug and unlawful gun possession charges, Geraghty said. The trial is scheduled to begin Sept. 25. Schoonover grew up in Lake Stevens and left behind a daughter, his father and stepmother, a brother and a sister. His father hadn't seen his son for more than a year. Police believe Schoonover was staying at the Everett Gospel Mission. He struggled with drug addiction and was in and out of trouble with the law, his father said. "In spite of all that, he was generous and loving. When he was on drugs he was not himself," Nick Schoonover told The Herald in 2008. "He was a really kind person. I don't think he ever meant to hurt anyone, except himself. It's a tragedy." Diana Hefley: 425-339-3463, hefley@heraldnet.com. READER COMMENTS Be the first to comment. You must be a registered user and verify your e-mail address to post comments to blogs or articles on HeraldNet. To register, click here. To read other terms and conditions, click here. Log out

1. City of Everett, neighbor sued over lost trees, mudslide 2. Three-car accident closes Highway 9 3. Kennedy’s assassination remains a puzzling memory 4. Ways to Give: How you can help in your community 5. Take a look under your seat 6. Novice real estate investors can lose their shirts 7. Kwan never golden, but sometimes transcendant 8. Lotto ticket worth $6.5 million sold in Lake Stevens 9. Canceled credit cards come as a shock for some 10. Count drags on long after the election's over 2 - Top 10 Stories Most Talked about 3 - Top 10 Stories Most Emailed

• Eat local this Thanksgiving • Mavericks moving on • Canada's Great Big Sea rolls into Edmonds • A. Murphy finishes 2nd in volleyball • Art Walk features music, demonstrations • EAT LOCAL: Getting the goods • Lynnwood HS history teacher Vic Bennet dies • Wildcats head to semis • CSO Chamber annual show slated Nov. 23 • Boeing will build, flight test and deliver 787s in South Carolina to spe ... • Snohomish County EDC promoting job growth in key industry clusters • $4 million grant to advance brain tumor research has Everett links • Providence medical center construction tops off its 12-story steel frame ... • Tulalip affordable housing project to be financed by KeyBank, Raymond Ja ... • Arlington's Lak of Ink has a growing following for Luke Kooyman's creati ... • Bank of the Northwest formed • Cascade Bank earns $1.6 million