Chicago man charged over murder of cop Ella French is offered plea deal that'll see him jailed for just SEVEN years
Chicago police officer Ella French was shot dead in August 2021 during a routine traffic stop and cop Carlos Yanez was severely wounded but survived his injuries
By Kamal Sultan
Daily Mail
Sep 20, 2023
Eric Morgan, who was charged over the murder of police officer Ella French, has been offered a plea deal that will see him jailed for just seven years
A Chicago man who was charged over the murder of police officer Ella French has been offered a plea deal that will see him jailed for just seven years.
French, 29, was shot dead in the West Englewood neighborhood on August 7, 2021 during a routine traffic and cop Carlos Yanez was severely wounded but survived his injuries.
Eric Morgan was accused of handling the murder weapon allegedly used by his brother Emonte 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 gravity of the offense, Eric will be freed by 2030. The murder accomplice's lawyer revealed on Friday that he has been offered a seven-year prison sentence 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.
Ella French, 29, was shot dead in the West Englewood neighborhood on August 7, 2021 during a routine traffic and cop Carlos Yanez was severely wounded but survived his injuries
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 23 years in prison if he does not accept the plea deal.
'If it were not for the fact that it was associated with the Chicago police and officers, he would've gotten a sentence of probation,' Brown said.
'So I think a sentence of seven years is more than enough.'
Eric is set to have his plea hearing on October 12.
Officer French was killed during a shooting at a traffic stop. The Morgan brothers were said to have been driving with expired license plates, prompting police to pull them over.
French's brother shed some more light on his late sibling in a moving tribute shared after her murder.
'She's my sister, she's my little sister. And as much as I was there for her when we were growing up, she was there for me. And I was proud of her, I'm still proud of her...God took the wrong kid,' he told the Chicago Tribune.
She and Yanez stopped the vehicle with two men and a woman inside just after 9pm on the day of the shooting, when a male passenger opened fire.
Investigators said the officers had demanded one of the suspects get out of the car.
There was a physical altercation and the suspect then opened fire, shooting 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 the first female officer fatally shot on the job there in 33 years.
In the exchange of gunfire, one of the brothers was shot and wounded.
French's death was first fatal shooting of a Chicago officer in the line of duty after former mayor Lori Lightfoot took office and first female officer fatally shot on the job there in 33 years
Officers Carlos Yanez is seen paralyzed in a hospital bed after he was shot during a traffic stop
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 on his record, including minor traffic offenses such as leaving the scene of an accident, operating a vehicle without a license and driving uninsured. He was also charged with battery and theft in 2019.
Eric pleaded guilty to theft in Dane County, Wisconsin, according to public records.
Jamal Danzy, 29, of Hammond, was accused of buying the weapon from a license gun dealer in Hammond, Indiana, in March and then providing it to an Illinois resident who Danzy knew could neither buy nor possess guns because of a felony conviction.
Danzy, of Hammond, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit federal firearm offenses in July 2022.
The charges did not name the individual who he bought the gun but it ended up in the hands of Eric who allegedly shot French.
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