MYNORTHWEST NEWS

Prosecutors will rely on ‘overwhelming circumstantial’ evidence in Conley murder

Jul 2, 2013, 2:45 PM | Updated: Jul 3, 2013, 7:46 am

Prosecutors have charged a Marysville man suspected in the shooting death of a Seattle teenager with one count second-degree murder, five counts of second-degree assault, and four counts of drive-by shooting.

Snohomish County District Court Judge Tam T. Bui set bail at $5 million for Erick N. Walker, who turned 27-years-old on Tuesday.

Walker, an employee at Boeing with no criminal history, is suspected of carrying out a shooting spree that began in Lake Stevens on the night of June 1. Molly Conley, a 15-year-old freshman at Bishop Blanchet High School, was shot in the neck and killed while walking with a group of friends in the 10600 Blk of S. Lake Stevens Road

According to court documents, several homes and vehicles were struck with bullets in Lake Stevens, Marysville and unincorporated Snohomish County in the hours after Conley was murdered.

Prosecutors revealed at a hearing Tuesday that ballistics testing matched five bullets recovered at several of the scenes to two separate Ruger Blackhawk handguns seized from Walker’s residence. A bullet was not recovered at the scene of Conley’s murder and Snohomish County Prosecutor Mark Roe declined to comment Tuesday on the lack of physical evidence linking Walker to the homicide.

“We think there is overwhelming circumstantial evidence that the same person is responsible for all of these (shootings),” he said. “But prosecutors aren’t supposed to try their cases to the media and start discussing specifics and arguing things.”

Just two hours before charges were filed late Tuesday afternoon, Roe told reporters his office would prosecute Walker for first-degree murder in the Conley case.

Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Joan Cavagnaro told KIRO Radio the decision was made to file a charge of second-degree murder after Judge Bui determined earlier in the day that probable cause did not exist to hold Walker on murder in the first degree, based on evidence provided in court documents.

“Given that that was the judge’s take on the case at this point in time, we decided that it would be best to stick to the charges that (Bui) found probable cause for,” Cavagnaro said. “This is not to say that the case may not end up as a first-degree murder later on.”

Molly Conley’s father was in court Tuesday, but declined to speak with the media.

MyNorthwest News

KIRO Newsradio gracie awards...

MyNorthwest Staff

KIRO Newsradio anchors receive Gracie Awards for outstanding work

Heather Bosch and Lisa Brooks, anchors at KIRO Newsradio, have been honored by the Alliance for Women in Media with prestigious Gracie Awards.

3 hours ago

Kia Boys...

Kate Stone, KIRO Newsradio and Bill Kaczaraba, MyNorthwest

‘Kia Boys’ allegedly execute a crime spree in south King County

Renton police chased down a 14-and 16-year-old but are still looking for two other teen suspects in what they said was a "crime spree" in south King County.

4 hours ago

Spanaway woman shot dead...

Kate Stone

Search for shooter continues after woman shot dead while driving in Spanaway

A 47-year-old woman was shot dead in Spanaway, causing her to hit another driver head-on early Wednesday morning.

5 hours ago

nintendo redmond...

Frank Sumrall

Nintendo to lay off 86 Redmond employees this spring

Nintendo of America is laying off 86 contract workers in Redmond, beginning May 25, due to company reorganization.

5 hours ago

Everett boy missing...

Sam Campbell

4-year-old Everett boy missing, police worried he’s in danger

Police and Search and Rescue crews are looking for a missing four-year-old boy they suspect could be in danger.

7 hours ago

Image: The awnings of a store advertise the sale of lottery tickets, including Mega Millions and Po...

Steve Coogan

Lottery jackpots update: Powerball prize jumps again after $1.1B Mega Millions win

A lottery jackpots update: The Powerball prize reached an estimated $935 million ahead of Saturday night's drawing.

16 hours ago

Prosecutors will rely on ‘overwhelming circumstantial’ evidence in Conley murder