Chicago Top Cop Slams Release of Man Accused of Supplying Gun that Killed Officer
After FBI questioning, Jamel Danzy confirmed that he had purchased the gun used to kill officer Ella French for Eric Morgan, an accomplice to the shooting, because Morgan had a felony record. The crisis over the shooting has worsened Mayor Lori Lightfoot's escalating feud with cops.
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Chicago Police Superintendent David Brown has issued an angry statement against a federal judge’s decision to release the man accused of making a straw purchase of the gun used to kill Chicago police Officer Ella French, reports the Chicago Tribune. Jamel Danzy, who faces federal charges of conspiring to violate firearms laws, was granted a $4,500 appearance bond pending trial, meaning he will not need to pay bail to get out of custody. U.S. Magistrate Judge Jeffrey Gilbert on Wednesday noted Danzy’s steady employment history and lack of criminal background. The decision sets a dangerous precedent, Brown’s statement said, “that straw purchasers like Danzy are not a danger to society, despite the fact that his alleged actions directly led to the murder of a Chicago Police Officer and left another in critical condition.”
Two brothers have been charged in connection with their alleged roles in the shooting: Emonte Morgan, who faces charges including murder and attempted murder, and Eric Morgan, who faces weapons charges and obstruction of justice. Cook County prosecutors say Emonte Morgan shot the officers, then handed the gun to his brother, who ran to a nearby yard where he was held by residents until police arrived. Records showed that Danzy bought the gun in March from a licensed dealer in Hammond, where he claimed to be buying the weapon for himself, but after questioning by the FBI admitted to buying the weapon for Eric Morgan, who had a felony record and could not buy a gun for himself. Meanwhile, Mayor Lori Lightfoot criticized the media for reporting on an incident where a group of officers turned their back on her while she visited the hospital where the two officers were taken after they were shot.
