A Chicago man charged in the murder of police officer Ella French has been offered a plea deal that will leave him in prison for just seven years.
French, 29, was shot and killed in the West Englewood neighborhood during a routine traffic stop on August 7, 2021, and Officer Carlos Yanez was seriously injured but survived his wounds.
Eric Morgan was accused of handling the murder weapon his brother Emonte allegedly used and was charged with aggravated unlawful use of a weapon, unlawful use of a weapon by a felon and obstruction of justice.
But despite the seriousness of the crime, Eric will be released in 2030. The lawyer for the accomplice to the murder announced on Friday that he has been offered a prison sentence of seven years, which is the maximum for the most serious charge he faces.
Emonte Morgan is accused of pulling the trigger. He has been charged with first-degree murder of a peace officer, attempted first-degree murder of a peace officer, aggravated unlawful use of a weapon and unlawful use of a weapon by a felon.
Eric Morgan, charged in the murder of police officer Ella French, has been offered a plea deal that will see him spend just seven years in prison
Ella French, 29, was shot and killed in the West Englewood neighborhood during a routine traffic stop on August 7, 2021, and Officer Carlos Yanez was seriously injured but survived his wounds
Emonte Morgan is accused of pulling the trigger. He has been charged with first-degree murder of a peace officer, attempted first-degree murder of a peace officer, aggravated unlawful use of a weapon and unlawful use of a weapon by a felon.
His attorney Roger Brown claimed he could face up to 23 years in prison if he doesn’t accept the plea deal.
“If there had been no connection with the Chicago Police Department and officers, he would have been placed on probation,” Brown said.
“So I think a sentence of seven years is more than enough.”
Eric will make his plea on October 12.
Officer French was killed during a shooting during a traffic stop. The Morgan brothers are said to have been driving with expired license plates, prompting police to arrest them.
French’s brother shed some more light on his late sibling in a touching tribute he shared after her murder.
‘She’s my sister, she’s my sister. And as much as I was there for her when we were growing up, she was there for me too. And I was proud of her, I’m still proud of her…
God took the wrong child,” he told the Chicago Tribune.
She and Yanez stopped the vehicle with two men and a woman inside just after 9 p.m. on the day of the shooting, when a male passenger opened fire.
Investigators said the officers demanded that one of the suspects get out of the car.
A physical altercation ensued, after which the suspect opened fire and shot both officers.
Her death was the first fatal shooting of a Chicago officer in the line of duty after former Mayor Lori Lightfoot took office and became the first female officer to be fatally shot in the line of duty there in 33 years.
In the gunfire, one of the brothers was shot and wounded.
French’s death was the first fatal shooting of a Chicago officer while on duty after former Mayor Lori Lightfoot took office and the first female officer was fatally shot on the job there in 33 years.
Officer Carlos Yanez is seen paralyzed in a hospital bed after being shot during a traffic stop
CPD officers paid their respects outside the hospital where the injured officer was being treated
At the time of the shooting, both brothers were on probation for separate cases.
Emonte pleaded guilty to robbery in Cook County court last year.
He also has other criminal charges to his name, including minor traffic violations such as leaving the scene of an accident, operating a vehicle without a license and driving without insurance. He was also charged with battery and theft in 2019.
According to public records, Eric pleaded guilty to theft in Dane County, Wisconsin.
Jamal Danzy, 29, of Hammond, was accused of purchasing the gun in March from a licensed gun dealer in Hammond, Indiana, and then providing it to an Illinois resident who Danzy knew could not purchase guns or possession due to a conviction for a crime.
Danzy, of Hammond, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit federal gun crimes in July 2022.
The indictment did not name the person he bought the gun for, but it ended up in the hands of Eric, who allegedly shot French.