Police arrest two brothers after Chicago officer fatally shot during traffic stop for expired plates

Two brothers in Illinois were arrested in connection to the shooting death of a police officer who stopped the pair for a traffic violation, authorities said.

According to WGN, Emonte Morgan, 21, faces charges of first-degree murder of a peace officer, two counts of attempted first-degree murder of a peace officer, aggravated unlawful use of a weapon, and unlawful use of a weapon by a felon.

His older brother, Eric Morgan, 22, is charged with aggravated unlawful use of a weapon, unlawful use of a weapon by a felon, and obstruction of justice.

On Saturday evening, Aug. 7, Chicago Police Department officer Ella French and her partner stopped a vehicle with the brothers and an unidentified female passenger, who has not been charged with a crime, because of expired plates, authorities said.

The occupants, according to police, opened fire on French, her partner and a third officer at the scene. During the ensuing firefight between the two groups, French was fatally struck and her partner wounded. One of the Morgan brothers was also hit and transported to an area hospital in stable condition.

The murder victim’s partner is in critical condition but “incrementally improving,” Chicago Police Dept. Superintendent David Brown noted. He added the brothers “need to be fully held accountable" for French's murder.

On social media, Chicago police wrote about the slain cop: “We will never forget the true bravery she exemplified as she laid her life down to protect others.”

A third man from Indiana, Jamal Danzy, is accused of supplying one of the brothers with the gun used in the shooting after he allegedly purchased the firearm from a licensed dealer and transported it out of state to Illinois.