Seven-year plea deal in ‘Ella’ case

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Morgan guilty of weapons charges

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By Tim Hadac

The 25-year-old man charged in the August 2021 shooting death of CPD Officer Ella French last week pleaded guilty to aggravated unlawful use of a weapon, aggravated battery with a dangerous weapon and obstruction of justice.

Eric Morgan

Eric Morgan’s action was part of a plea deal with prosecutors. It was accepted in a Leighton Criminal Court Building, courtroom by Judge Ursula Walowski, who sentenced Morgan to seven years in prison.

Still to be tried is Morgan’s brother, Emonte, who is charged with murder and other felony-level crimes in the slaying of the 29-year-old French, as well as the shooting of CPD Officer Carlos Yanez Jr.—who suffered disabling injuries and has struggled to recover for more than two years.

Eric Morgan continues to say he believes Emonte Morgan is not guilty of murder.

Emonte Morgan

Last week’s sentencing was witnessed by French’s mother, Elizabeth, as well as Yanez and a host of family, friends and law enforcement officers.

“I can hope that you come to learn and understand how very wrong it was to help take Ella’s,” a tearful Elizabeth French said to Eric Morgan in the courtroom.

In a victim impact statement, she recounted tender details of her daughter’s life, all the way back to infancy.

Then she described the shock and horror of learning her daughter had been shot in the face and then died of the injury.

She also described her feelings of loss and ongoing heartache.

“I want to hug and hold my daughter again, but all I can do is hug a flag-draped casket and then she disappears,” Elizabeth French said.

The late CPD Officer Ella French. –Supplied photo

Morgan read a brief statement in which he expressed regret for what French’s death.

Reaction in the neighborhood was subdued, although most seemed to fault Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx for the plea deal.

“This thug has a direct role in [Officer French’s] murder, and he gets just seven years? That’s batsh~t crazy,” said one law enforcement officer who asked his name be withheld. “So this guy will be back on the street in three years or so? If we had a different State’s Attorney, things would be a lot different.”