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FinalCall.com News
National News
Howard Morgan fights for his life
By Judith Muhammad
and Yolanda Muhammad
Updated Apr 26, 2005 - 7:25:00 PM
CHICAGO (FinalCall.com) - Howard Morgan, a victim of brutality, was shot 25 times Feb. 21 by four Chicago Police Officers. Mr. Morgan, a retired Burlington Railroad Police Officer, has been hospitalized in serious condition since the shooting.
Injured and unable to attend a court hearing scheduled at Chicago’s Cook County courthouse, Mr. Morgan’s lawyer requested that the hearing be brought to him. So, he was wheeled from his bed in Oak Forest County Hospital to a small conference room within the hospital for an Apr. 15 bail hearing.
Mr. Morgan, who allegedly fired four bullets in self-defense, is charged with four counts of attempted first-degree murder for the shootings of the four cops.
The District Attorney’s office made a special request of Judge Kathleen Pantle to deny bail for Mr. Howard, stating that he is a “danger to anyone” and that the nature of the crime makes him a flight risk. While the prosecutors tried to paint a horrific picture of him, his career record, family and friends prove him to be an entirely different man.
He was a Chicago Police Officer for eight years, who received excellent evaluations during his tenure and transitioned with high recommendations to the Railroad as police officer. Mr. Morgan has never been charged with a crime, and is loved and respected by family and community members.
Leo Holt, attorney for Mr. Morgan, presented 25 exhibits to the court, depicting the character of the defendant as an upstanding citizen, devoted husband and father, friend to the community and dedicated and valuable employee, both to the Chicago Police Department and the Burlington Railroad. He requested that Mr. Morgan be freed on his own recognizance.
Although Judge Pantle stated the prosecutors did not meet their burden to prove he was a flight risk, she set bail at $2 million. Alarmed, Atty. Holt, a retired judge, called it an “outrageous bail” and asked Judge Pantle to reconsider the amount. She adamantly refused to do so at that time; however, she agreed to reconsider if any other information comes out during the discovery process.
Atty. Holt believes that the ruling is a concession for the Fraternal Order of Police and that every Black officer should be extremely careful when carrying their weapons while off duty.
Family, friends and supporters were shocked, dismayed and appalled at the ruling. After the hearing, the group gathered outside the hospital doors, in a solidarity rally and showed no signs of discouragement. The number one supporter was Rosalind Morgan, flanked by her daughters, Aukeko and Iane, and father-in-law Bishop M.L. Crawford, with friends Rev. Jakes and Donna Farrakhan Muhammad. Ms. Morgan stated with unwavering conviction that her husband is not a criminal. She thanked God that the judge did allow bail, but argued that $2 million is extremely high.
It’s “not enough” that his family has to see him in so much pain, shackled to the bed, she insisted, but a $2 million bail adds “more emotional pain for him and his family.” According to Ms. Howard, her husband was shot in his chest near his heart, and cannot walk, because he now has an iron rod in his leg. His arm will never function the same again.
Bishop Crawford felt the judge should have shown more mercy since Mr. Morgan was shot 25 times and “his record calls for more mercy.”
In a conversation with his son-in-law, he shared that Mr. Morgan said that he has no animosity in his heart for the officers that shot him. As a testament to the group’s strength, they ended the rally with the recital of Psalm 23 in the Bible: “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for God is with me.”
(A defense fund has been established to defray some of the legal costs. Donations may be mailed to P.O. Box 368817, Chicago, IL 60636.)
