Man gets nearly 91 years for shooting that killed teen girl

EVERETT — A Snohomish County Superior Court judge Tuesday gave a nearly 91-year prison sentence to a man who went on a shooting spree in Lake Stevens and Marysville and fatally shot a 15-year-old girl as she walked down the street with her friends.

Judge Thomas Wynne said the death of Molly Conley had a devastating impact on her family, friends and the community. He told convicted shooter Erick Walker that he wanted him to spend the rest of his life in prison.

Prosecutors say Walker, of Marysville, went on a three-hour shooting spree, indiscriminately firing from his car and hitting homes.

Molly was a freshman at Seattle’s Bishop Blanchet High School when she was fatally shot while celebrating her birthday on June 1, 2013, with friends in Lake Stevens.

After a three-week trial, Walker, 28, was found guilty of manslaughter by a jury in March in the death of Molly as well as one assault and five drive-by shooting charges.

Prosecutors had asked for the sentence of 90.75 years, the harshest punishment allowed by law.

Before the sentencing, Molly’s father, John Conley, told the judge that standing in a courtroom near the man who killed his daughter was “brutal.”

Molly’s mother, Susan Arksey, asked the judge to give Walker the toughest punishment possible.

Walker’s lawyer asked the judge to go with a lower sentence of 70 years. Walker did not ask to make a statement before sentencing.