Two men arrested in slaying of man who died near the Tulalip Reservation

Published 11:09 pm Monday, February 25, 2008

STANWOOD — The arrest of two men in the slaying of a homeless man brought some relief to the victim’s family on Monday.

Nicky Schoonover Jr., 36, also known as “Scratchy,” was shot multiple times Feb. 19 and left to die on a vacant lot just north of the Tulalip Indian Reservation. His body was found two days later.

“We were horrified that someone could do this to another human being,” his father, Nick Schoonover, said. “We’re extremely grateful to the sheriff’s department for getting these guys off the street so they can’t hurt anyone else.”

Detectives believe Schoonover was killed over $800. They found a check-cashing receipt clenched in his hand. Earlier in the day he’d taken his disability check to a Money Tree branch in Everett. Investigators believe the men suspected of killing Schoonover were with him when he cashed the check. They later allegedly drove him to the vacant lot, where they shot him.

Police over the weekend arrested Elmer Sampson, 45, of Marysville and Jamall Baker, 31, of Everett for investigation of first-degree murder. Both men on Monday were ordered held on $500,000 bail.

When questioned by detectives, both men denied shooting Schoonover, according to court documents.

Elmer Sampson has a history of mental illness and drug use, according to his sister-in-law, Melody Sampson. He spent time in prison in Montana for theft and drugs, she said. She has never known him to be violent.

“A gun for him would be so out of character,” the North Dakota woman said Monday. “We’re dumbstruck. We feel horrible. We feel horrible for the (victim’s) family.”

Sheriff’s detectives identified the two men through a surveillance video taken at a mini-mart near the Money Tree. On the video, Schoonover and the two suspects were seen at the store together, buying gas and food, police said.

Investigators shared the footage with other police departments. They learned the suspects’ names from Everett police, who had detained Sampson and Baker as suspects in a drive-by shooting on Tuesday. Neither man has been charged in connection with the Everett case.

Multiple shots had been fired in area near Pacific Avenue and Norton Street. Police don’t believe the drive-by shooting was connected to the Stanwood-area homicide.

“Cases like this one can be tough to solve. It was a combination of getting a couple of breaks and some great detective and police work,” sheriff’s spokeswoman Rebecca Hover said. “It was a smart move to check the nearby mini-mart’s video surveillance.”

Detectives believe that later that evening the three men drove up to the Stanwood area and likely were doing drugs.

Investigators have not said if both men are suspected of shooting Schoonover. The case remains under investigation and it isn’t known if more arrests will be made, Hover said.

Schoonover grew up in Lake Stevens and leaves behind a teenage 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 a drug addiction and was in and out of trouble with the law, his dad said.

“In spite of all that, he was generous and loving. When he was on drugs he was not himself,” Nick Schoonover said. “He was a really kind person. I don’t think he ever meant to hurt anyone, except himself. It’s a tragedy.”