Now-fired Texas police officer charged in shooting of teen who was eating in McDonald’s parking lot

A former San Antonio, Texas, law enforcement officer was charged Tuesday with two counts of aggravated assault by a peace officer in last week’s capturing of a teen who was having a hamburger in his car in a McDonald’s parking ton. The teenager had begun driving absent when the officer opened hearth.

James Brennand, 25, who was fired following the shooting, was billed in the Oct. 2 shooting of Erik Cantu, 17, in accordance to a police statement. He turned himself in to law enforcement Tuesday night and remained in custody, said Police Chief William McManus.

Cantu’s family explained in a assertion Tuesday that there was no improvement in his situation. “He is nonetheless unconscious and is on existence aid,” the assertion mentioned. “The last two times have been tricky, and we expect a lot more trouble forward, but we continue to be hopeful.”

Brian Powers, the family’s lawyer, claimed it is “an exceptionally complicated time for them.”

Brennand, a rookie officer, reported that the automobile in which Cantu sat experienced evaded him the night time prior to through an tried visitors stop. Brennand claimed he suspected the car or truck had been stolen.

In body digital camera footage launched by police, Brennand opens the motor vehicle doorway and tells Cantu to get out. The motor vehicle drives backward, door open up, and the officer fires various times into the motor vehicle. He continues to shoot as the automobile drives away.

Costs towards teenager dropped

Investigators promptly identified that the use of deadly drive was unwarranted, Brennand was swiftly fired, and prices from Cantu of aggravated assault and evading arrest were being dropped.

A law enforcement spokesperson did not right away answer to an inquiry about whether or not the vehicle was in fact stolen.

Brennand is billed with two counts of assault simply because there was a passenger in the car. The passenger was unharmed.

In a information meeting Tuesday night, the police main defended the department’s instruction and mentioned the failures were individuals of the individual officer.

In an physical appearance on CNN before Tuesday, McManus stated he expected Brennand to be billed with aggravated assault for the shooting, or murder should Cantu die.

McManus said Brennand’s human body digicam video was “horrific.”

“There is no problem in anybody’s mind seeking at that movie that the shooting is not justified,” McManus mentioned.

Law enforcement officials and the Bexar County District Attorney’s Place of work did not quickly return messages from The Linked Push. Brennand, who has no printed phone selection, could not be attained for comment.

In accordance to his family’s statement, Cantu’s condition is in stark contrast to that furnished earlier by law enforcement officials. In the wake of the shooting, police reported Cantu was hospitalized and in secure problem.

“We might like to proper any misrepresentations that Erik is in ‘stable condition’ or he is ‘going to be great.’ That is not genuine. Each and every breath is a battle for Erik. We request for everyone’s continued prayers for our son,” read the family’s assertion.