The wheels of justice are turning in Chicago as jury selection commenced for Emonte Morgan, the man indicted in the fatal shooting of Chicago Police Officer Ella French in 2021. Emonte Morgan faces a staggering 85-count indictment which includes multiple counts of murder and attempted murder, according to CBS Chicago.
Alongside the slain officer's partner, Carlos Yanez Jr. was wounded and left paralyzed in the August 2021 encounter which unfolded during a seemingly routine traffic stop in Englewood. Yanez also lost an eye in the incident. Emonte's brother, Eric Morgan, after previously pleading guilty in October 2023, to charges including aggravated battery with a dangerous weapon, was sentenced to seven years behind bars, CBS Chicago reported.
The heart of the prosecution's case may hinge on body camera footage from the night of the murder, which a judge has ruled admissible, according to WLS-TV. Emonte Morgan, while steadfast in his not-guilty plea, is accused of igniting a struggle and firing upon the officers with a gun he had concealed in his waistband during their interaction. Both French and her partner, reports noted, had their guns holstered when they were shot.
Last week, details emerged of Officer French's character when it was revealed that just a month before her death, she and other officers escorted a 1-month-old baby and her mother to a hospital following a mass shooting. This act of service, now laced with tragic irony, was noted by WLS-TV.
As the trial progresses, the city of Chicago and its embattled police department brace for the outcome, with opening statements expected to follow the completion of jury selection.
