A police chief describes the officer’s behavior as “unjustified.” Multiple gunshots have left the 17-year-old unconscious and on life support.
A former San Antonio police officer has been arrested and charged with two counts of aggravated assault for shooting a youngster eating a cheeseburger in his car in a McDonald’s parking lot.
According to a police statement, James Brennand, 25, was charged on Tuesday for the shooting of Erik Cantu on 2 October.
A family attorney stated that the 17-year-old, who was shot multiple times, remained unconscious and on life support.
Brennand, who had been on the police for seven months and was still on probation at the time of the incident, was terminated two days later.
Brennand faces two counts of aggravated assault, according to Police Chief William McManus, because there were two passengers in the automobile when the rounds were fired. A 17-year-old female passenger sustained no injuries.
Brennand observed Mr. Cantu’s car while attending to allegations of an unrelated disturbance at the fast-food establishment.
He said that Mr. Cantu’s vehicle had evaded him during attempted traffic check the previous evening. Brennand stated that he believed the vehicle was stolen.
Brennand opened the car door and told the teen to exit the vehicle, as seen on police body camera footage.
The officer fired multiple shots at the vehicle as the boy reversed the vehicle with the door open, and continued to fire as the vehicle drove away.
Brennand was fired after investigators swiftly found the use of deadly force was unjustified. The charges of aggravated assault and evasion of arrest against Mr. Cantu were dropped.
Mr. McManus stated that Brennand’s behavior was “unjustified.”
The police chief defended the department’s training and stated that individual officers were responsible for their failures.
He stated that if Mr. Cantu’s condition changed, so would Brennand’s allegations.
