Sentencing Delayed For Man Convicted Of Killing Ofcr. Ella French

CHICAGO — Sentencing was delayed for the man convicted of fatally shooting Chicago Police Officer Ella French and wounding her partner, Carlos Yanez, who was shot in the face resulting in the loss of an eye.

Emonte Morgan, 23, was convicted in the spring of first-degree and two counts of attempted first degree murder in the August 2021 death of French.

He is facing a life sentence.

The evening of Aug. 7, 2021, French and her partner, Yanez, stopped Morgan and his brother, Eric Moran, now 25, for a traffic stop in West Englewood. A struggle ensued when Morgan is said to have fired shots at the officers, killing French and shooting Yanez four times in the face.

During his trial, Morgan’s attorneys claimed their client’s gun went off accidentally, but Yanez’s testimony and graphic body cam video showed that the officers did not pull their guns.

A fully-loaded .22-caliber handgun, alleged to be the murder weapon, was later recovered, along with an extra magazine of bullets.

Morgan was set to be sentenced Tuesday morning at the Leighton Criminal Courts Building, but his attorneys filed for a new trial, news reports said. Prosecutors have not had a chance to review the motion. A new hearing date is set for Sept. 11. Should the judge deny the motion for a new trail, sentencing for Morgan will proceed.

Eric Morgan struck a plea deal for his role in the shooting in exchange for a seven-year sentence and his cooperation.

Emonte Morgan, 23 | Cook County Sheriff