A Chicago man accused of killing Chicago Police Officer Ella French and shooting her partner during a traffic stop over the weekend received two years probation after he pleaded guilty to robbing a man on the North Side in August 2019. CWBChicago introduced you to Monty Morgan, formally known as Emonte Morgan, shortly after that victim beat Morgan in self-defense following the August 8, 2019, robbery attempt.
Two years ago, prosecutors said Morgan arranged to meet a 36-year-old Bridgeport man in the 1200 block of North Larrabee so Morgan could purchase the other guy’s $900 iPhone. But, when the two got together around 8:30 p.m. on August 8, Morgan took the phone and ran away, the victim alleged.
The victim tackled Morgan in a nearby parking lot, and a fight broke out. Police said Morgan punched the man repeatedly, prompting the alleged victim to “defend himself.” A passerby also jumped into the fray to help detain Morgan until police arrived.
Morgan’s face was visibly battered and scratched when cops took his mugshot a few hours later.
Prosecutors initially charged Morgan, who listed an Old Town address at the time of his arrest, with felony theft and misdemeanor battery. He pleaded guilty to one count of robbery on November 25, 2020, in exchange for a sentence of two years probation by Judge Lauren Edidin. That probation is still in effect and prosecutors filed a motion for violation of probation on May 18 after Morgan allegedly fled the scene of an accident involving injury, court records show.
Today, prosecutors charged Morgan with first-degree murder of a peace officer, two counts of attempted first-degree murder of a peace officer, aggravated unlawful use of a weapon by a felony, and aggravated unlawful use of a weapon in connection with the death of French, the shooting of her partner, and the attempted shooting of another cop over the weekend. He was shot by officers who returned fire, police said, and was listed in serious condition.
Morgan’s brother, Eric, was driving the car that French and other officers pulled over for expired plates, according to CPD. Eric Morgan is charged with two felony gun counts and obstruction of justice in connection with this weekend’s events.
But Eric Morgan also has a history of robbery.
In June 2018, Eric Morgan and another man were charged with robbing four people of $180 in Madison, Wisconsin, according to a contemporaneous local media report. He later pleaded guilty to felony theft, according to court records.
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