Brothers Accused In Cop Slaying Ordered Held Without Bail

CHICAGO — Two brothers accused in the fatal shooting of a Chicago police officer and her partner were ordered held without bail during separate bond hearings Tuesday at the Leighton Criminal Courts Building.

Emonte “Monty” Morgan, 21, faces charges of first-degree murder, attempted murder of a peace officer and two weapons offenses, resulting in the death CPD Officer Ella French. He was not present in court and remains hospitalized after being shot by one of French’s partners, where he is being treated at Advocate Christ Medical Center for a gunshot wound to the chest.

His 22-year-old brother Eric Morgan, is charged with aggravated unlawful use of a weapon, unlawful use of a weapon by a felon and obstruction of justice.

Just after 9 p.m. Aug. 7, French was driving a police vehicle along with two partners as part of a community safety team, when the officers pulled over a gray SUV with expired license plates, said Assistant State’s Attorney James Murphy, in the 2200 block of West 63rd Street.

There was open alcohol in the car, and a female passenger riding in the front passenger seat was not wearing her seatbelt, prosecutor Murphy said. Morgan’s brother Eric, who is also charged in the events leading up to that fatal shooting, was driving, according to the charges.

After directing the SUV to pull over past a viaduct past the intersection of 63rd Street and Bell. All three officers approached the SUV on foot. French had Eric Morgan hand her the car keys and step out of the vehicle. He also allegedly admitted to possessing cannabis. Murphy said Eric Morgan was initially cooperative and stepped out of the vehicle. The female passenger, who was not charged, got out and stood behind the SUV.

Emonte Morgan was holding a drink and a cell phone when he was asked to step out of the car. The prosecutor said Monty refused officers repeated instructions to set the items down. As he physically jerked his arms away from the officers, the prosecutor said the male officers tried to get control of Emonte. His brother, Eric, broke away from police and fled, Murphy said. The third officer chased after him.

Body-worn cameras showed Emonte with a gun in his waistband as French and her partner tried to contain him. The struggle moved from the rear of the SUV and ended up at the open front passenger door. The prosecutor said that Emonte was partially inside the front passenger seat when he started firing at the officers. Both officers' guns were sttitll holstered.

French sustained a gunshot wound in the back of her head. Her 39-year-old partner was shot in the right eye and right shoulder, and has a bullet lodged in his brain. Emonte can be seen stepping over the wounded officers holding a gun, their body-worn cameras still recording, Murphy said

Hearing gunshots, the third officer left Eric Morgan and ran back toward the police vehicle. When the officer saw Emonte, the prosecutor said Emonte began firing multiple shots at the officer, who hit the ground. While on the ground, the officer said he saw both brothers meet up across the street, who began running south on Bell. Murphy said the officer stood up and began firing at the brothers, hitting Emonte in the abdomen.

Neighbors found Eric Morgan hiding in a nearby yard, Murphy said. The neighbors were able to restrain Eric by sitting on him until police arrived. One of the neighbors reported that Eric hit him in the arm with what he believed to be a gun.

The wounded officers were loaded into police vehicles and rushed to University of Chicago Medical Center, where French succumbed to her wound. Her partner remains hospitalized in critical condition, but is said to be doing “incrementally better.”

Both brothers gave videotaped confessions. Emonte allegedly admitted to drinking and possessing a gun in his waistband, and remarking to his brother “that the cops were watching them.” Emonte further admitted to pulling out his gun and thought he might have shot “the girl and the boy cop,” Murphy said.

Eric Morgan told police he was nervous when they were stopped because he knew Emonte was carrying a gun, Murphy said. Eric claimed he heard gunshots when the third officer was attempting to arrest him. The officer ran back to the police vehicle. Emonte ran to give the gun to his brother. Eric claimed he was trying to get rid of the gun and jumped a gate before some men stopped, Murphy said.

Police recovered three fired .22 caliber cartridge cases were from the street behind the brothers’ SUV, which matched the gun found near Eric Morgan, Murphy said. Additional fired .22 caliber cartridges and live rounds, along with a bottle of Hennessy were also said to be found inside the SUV.

The SUV is registered to a 29-year-old Indiana man, Jamal Danzy who is accused of straw purchasing the firearm that was used in the fatal shooting. The plates were expired and did not match the SUV. Danzy was federally charged Monday with firearm violations, including the illegal transfer of a gun to a felon over state lines.

Both brothers have prior felony convictions, and neither is allowed to own a gun. Emonte Morgan is serving two years’ probation for robbery, and has a pending case of leaving the scene of an accident where he is alleged to have struck a pedestrian in April. A violation of probation was filed for Emonte.

Eric Morgan pleaded guilty to theft in Dane County, Wis., records show.