Emonte Morgan
The man convicted of killing Chicago Police Officer Ella French three years ago was sentenced last week to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
In March, Emonte Morgan was found guilty of shooting and killing French and injuring Officer Carols Yanez Jr. after a traffic stop in 2021.
Cook County Criminal Court Judge Ursula Walowski sentenced Morgan in a courtroom at the George N. Leighton Criminal Courthouse September 4. The sentencing hearing lasted nearly seven hours.
Morgan received consecutive life sentences without parole, 50 years in prison for trying to shoot a third officer Joshua Blas, and seven years in prison for unlawful use of a weapon. The sentences are to be served consecutively.
“The brashness to kill a police officer after a traffic stop results in a brash sentence, which is the rest of his life in jail,” said Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx after the sentences were announced.
Morgan made a final statement in a handwritten letter. He said there was no intent to murder French. Walowski said Morgan chose to pull the trigger.
“I don’t think it’s justice. I’m not going to get closure,” said Yanez after the sentencing hearing. “I mean like, I’m affected for the rest of my life. So many people were affected by this.”
Morgan was convicted of first-degree murder for killing French on Aug. 7, 2021, during a traffic stop at 63rd Street and Bell Avenue in West Englewood. His brother, Eric, was also in the car.
Eric Morgan accepted a plea deal last October on weapons charges in connection with the killing and was sentenced to seven years in prison.