Former Cop Arrested for Shooting Teen In McDonald’s Parking Lot

A former San Antonio, Texas was arrested for shooting and wounding 17-year-old Erik Cantu after he fled a McDonald’s parking lot.

James Brennand was charged with two counts of aggravated assault by a public servant, a felony, following an investigation into the shooting that occurred earlier this month.

He was fired on Oct. 4, just two days after the incident.

Cantu was eating a hamburger inside his car earlier this month when Brennand approached and shot at it as the jolted teen fled.

Brennand turned himself into authorities, according to Police Chief Bill McManus.

McManus said, “Someone questioned our training and our policies and my response was this was a failure for one individual police officer, had nothing to do with our policies.”

Cantu’s family aired their discretions through their family attorney, who said, “The young man is on life support as his condition is still touch-and-go. At this time, there is no improvement in his condition. He is still unconscious. The last two days have been difficult and we expect more difficulty ahead, but we remain hopeful.”

Meanwhile, Erik’s family made a later statement, “We’d like to correct any misrepresentations that Erik is in ‘stable condition’ or he is ‘going to be fine.’ That is not true. Every breath is a struggle for Erik. We ask for everyone’s continued prayers for our son.” 

McManus warned the charges against the officer could change if Cantu ends up dead.

“The next step would be to bring the case to the local district attorney’s office to present in front of a grand jury,” he said. 

“Brennand was in the parking lot originally responding to an unrelated disturbance when he spotted Cantu’s car, which he believed evaded him a day earlier,” said police training commander Alyssa Campos. “He was a rookie cop, who has been on the force for less than a year and he violated training and police procedures after he walked up to Cantu’s car on Oct. 2. He ordered the teen out of the car after he suddenly opened the driver’s side door before backup officers arrived.”

“With the vehicle door still open, the driver put the vehicle in reverse and attempted to leave. The officer was hit by the open door. The officer then stepped back and opened fire on the vehicle as the driver reversed away from him,” Campos added. “Cantu and an unharmed passenger stopped nearby before police found them. 

“With the vehicle door still open, the driver put the vehicle in reverse and attempted to leave. The officer was hit by the open door. The officer then stepped back and opened fire on the vehicle as the driver reversed away from him,” Campos added. “Cantu and an unharmed passenger stopped nearby before police found them. Originally, Cantu was charged in connection to the incident, but the local district attorney’s office quickly dropped that case.”