Man Gets 23 Years For Murder

EVERETT - Calling drive-by shootings a scourge on society that makes people fearful in their own homes, Snohomish County Superior Court Judge Ron Castleberry yesterday sentenced a 23-year-old man to 21 years in prison.

Eric Ott pleaded guilty Feb. 10 to second-degree murder and to an unrelated forgery charge in Snohomish County Superior Court. Ott killed Christopher Sampson when he drove by Sampson's home and fired at the windows with a .22-caliber Ruger pistol just after midnight Jan. 14.

One of the shots struck Sampson in the upper back, killing him.

Before going to Sampson's home, Ott told witnesses he was going to shoot Sampson over a $10 debt, according to charging papers.

Ott was also sentenced to five months in prison for the unrelated forgery charge. The sentences will run concurrently.