CHICAGO — When Officer Ella French was killed during a traffic stop on Saturday, she left behind heartbroken family members, friends, fellow officers and Chicagoans who encountered her during her three years on the force.
Among those grieving is one person who has been otherwise critical of the Chicago Police Department.
Anjanette Young sued the city earlier this year after she was left naked and handcuffed during a wrongful police raid in 2019. Young tearfully described being humiliated and disrespected by officers during the raid — but afterward, French arrived on the scene, according to Young’s attorney.
“Officer French assisted Ms. Young and allowed her to get dressed, in the privacy of her bedroom,” a spokesperson for Young said in a statement. “Officer French was the only officer who showed Ms. Young any dignity or respect on the night of the raid. Ms. Young is praying for Officer French’s family and offers her sincerest condolences to them and all of Officer French’s friends and colleagues.”
French was not part of the initial raid, and only responded after the fact, the statement said.
French, 29, also was credited for saving the life of a newborn baby wounded during a July 2 mass shooting in Englewood, WGN TV reported.
The baby’s uncle Charles McKenzie told the station French drove the wounded infant and her mother to the hospital herself. The child has since recovered.
“She cares a lot about the community, and she loved the people inside the community,” McKenzie told WGN. “Knowing officers like that. … It’s hard to reach officers like that in this community.”
A vigil was held in French’s honor on the South Side Tuesday. Another is planned for Wednesday evening on the Northwest Side.
Emonte Morgan, 21, has been charged with first-degree murder of a peace officer, attempted first-degree murder of a police officer, aggravated unlawful use of a weapon and unlawful use of a weapon by a felon in her slaying.
Emonte Morgan was denied bail at a hearing Tuesday. He was shot during the gunfight with police and is hospitalized.
Emonte’s brother — Eric Morgan, 19 — has also been charged in connection to the shooting. He faces charges of aggravated unlawful use of a weapon, unlawful use of a weapon by a felon and obstruction of justice.
Jamel Danzy, 29, of Indiana, is facing federal charges of conspiracy to violate federal weapons laws for allegedly buying the gun used in the shooting.
The shooting happened about 9 p.m. Saturday in the 6300 block of South Bell Street. French’s partner, also wounded in the incident, remained hospitalized in critical condition Wednesday, Mayor Lori Lightfoot said.
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