Jury chosen for Emonte Morgan murder trial, accused of shooting CPD Officer Ella French in 2021

CHICAGO (WLS) -- To see the latest update of the trial, click here.

The trial for man accused of fatally shooting Chicago police Officer Ella French began on Monday with jury selection.

After initially selecting a jury, selection resumed Monday afternoon, after an alternate was removed.

Emonte Morgan and his brother Eric Morgan were charged in the 2021 murder of French.

Prosecutors said Emonte Morgan fired the fatal shots that killed French and injured her partner, Carlos Yanez, times during a traffic stop in West Englewood in August 2021.

RELATED: Surveillance video shows traffic stop before fatal shooting of CPD Officer Ella French; 2 charged

His brother, Eric Morgan, was driving the car the officers had pulled over for expired tags, police said.

When French asked Eric Morgan to hand over the car keys and get out, he did. But police say Emonte Morgan, who was sitting in the back seat, would not cooperate. Investigators said he struggled with police, and had his gun in his waistband.

According to officials, both officers had their guns holstered when Emonte Morgan pulled out a gun and fired at both officers.

Emonte's grandmother Denice Morgan was present in court to defend him Monday.

"He's afraid; his life is at stake with this, you know. Who wouldn't be afraid? He's just starting out life, he's a baby," she said.

As jury selection began, a judge ordered Cook County deputies to collect fliers that had been posted around the courthouse in support of the accused murderer.

Emonte's mother also demanded video evidence be shown in court.

"The narrative has been painted long enough - the false narrative by police," his mother Evaleena Flores said. "It's time that people know the truth. I say release the body cams and let the body cams speak for themselves."

Last week, a judge ruled the jury will be allowed to hear and see the body camera footage.

Emonte Morgan has pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Eric Morgan accepted a plea deal last year for a seven-year sentence.

French was one of the officers who took a 1-month-old baby and her mother to the hospital on July 2 when the baby was shot in the head during a mass shooting in Englewood.

SEE ALSO: 1-month-old shot in head among 7 wounded in Englewood