1 of 2 brothers charged in murder of Chicago Police Officer Ella French offered plea deal: lawyers

CHICAGO (WLS) -- One of two brothers charged in the murder of Chicago Police Officer Ella French has been offered a plea deal.

Lawyers for Eric Morgan say he's been offered a seven-year prison sentence, which is the maximum under the most serious charge he faces. He is facing three charges, including unlawful aggravated use of a weapon, aggravated battery and obstruction of justice.

If he does not agree to the deal, his attorney said he could face 23 years in prison.

"If it were not for the fact that it was associated with the Chicago police and officers, he would've gotten a sentence of probation," his attorney Roger Brown said. "So I think a sentence of seven years is more than enough."

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"No shock there's a plea deal," ABC7 legal analyst Gil Soffer said. "Defendant is going to want one if they get it, and government is going to give it so they can avoid a trial. Length of the sentence isn't a terrible surprise either because he wasn't the trigger man."

Investigators said Eric's brother, Emonte Morgan, was the trigger man, killing French and shooting her partner during an August 2021 traffic stop.

Emonte faces first-degree murder charges. Eric allegedly handed the murder weapon by his brother.

Soffer said it's very unlikely that the accused shooter, Emonte, will get any sort of plea deal.

His brother Eric will have his plea hearing on Oct.12.

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