Emonte Morgan: Man convicted of killing officer and wounding her partner during routine traffic stop
Warning: This article contains a recollection of crime and can be triggering to some, readers’ discretion advised.
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS: Emonte Morgan, 23, was found guilty on Tuesday, March 5, for the shooting and killing of Chicago Police Officer Ella French, as well as the severe wounding of her partner, Officer Carlos Yanez Jr.
The incident occurred during a routine traffic stop on the city's South Side in August 2021.
Timeline of a routine traffic stop turned fatal
The trial shed light on the tragic events that unfolded on that fateful day when Officers French and Yanez Jr attempted to stop an SUV with expired tags, an ordinary traffic violation that turned deadly. Officer French, 29, lost her life in the line of duty, leaving behind a grieving family, friends, and colleagues.
Officer Yanez Jr sustained severe injuries during the incident, enduring multiple gunshot wounds to the eye, brain, and shoulder in the senseless act of violence. Throughout the trial, the defense opted not to call any witnesses, and an email seeking comment was sent to Morgan's public defender.
Illegal firearm purchase linked to Officer Ella French's death
The verdict, which came after less than two hours of jury deliberation, saw Morgan convicted on charges of first-degree murder, attempted murder of a peace officer, and possession/use of a firearm as a felon.
The legal proceedings unveiled the involvement of a third individual, Jamel Danzy of Hammond, Indiana. Danzy was sentenced to 2 1/2 years in prison last December after pleading guilty to a federal firearms charge related to making an illegal straw purchase of the handgun used in the killing of Officer French, as per AP.
Notably, the passing of Officer French marked the initial instance of a fatal shooting involving a Chicago officer in the line of duty since 2018, and, it was the first time in 33 years that a female officer lost her life in such a tragic manner on the job.
Furthermore, the tragic saga continued with revelations about Morgan's brother, Eric Morgan, who pleaded guilty in October to charges of aggravated unlawful use of a weapon, battery, and obstruction of justice.
