THE THIN BLUE LINE
SAN ANTONIO (AP) — A now-former San Antonio police officer was charged Tuesday with two counts of aggravated assault by a peace officer in last week’s shooting of a teen who was eating a hamburger in his car in a McDonald’s parking lot. James Brennand, 25, was charged in the Oct. 2 shooting of Erik Cantu, 17, according to a police statement.
Cantu’s family said in a statement Tuesday that “there is no improvement in his condition. He is still unconscious and is on life support. The last two days have been difficult, and we expect more difficulty ahead, but we remain hopeful.”
A rookie officer, Brennand reported the vehicle in which Cantu sat had evaded him the night before during an attempted traffic stop. Brennand said he suspected the vehicle had been stolen. In body camera footage released by police, Brennand opens the car door and tells Cantu to get out. The car drives backward, door open, and the officer fires multiple times into the vehicle. He continues to shoot as the car drives away.
Police Chief William McManus said Brennand’s charges would be upgraded to murder if Cantu dies.
Cantu’s condition, as related in his family’s statement, is in stark contrast to what police officials said in the wake of the shooting: that Cantu was hospitalized in stable condition.
“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,” the family said.
The 17-year-old shot multiple times by a cop while eating outside a McDonald’s is on life support after several of his organs were punctured … TMZ has learned.
Erik Cantu‘s family, through his attorney Brian Powers, tells TMZ the teen has undergone multiple surgeries to repair major organs that were damaged — a result of the gunfire.
Erik’s being closely monitored as the system keeps his lungs operating. He still remains sedated to hopefully ease the pain and discomfort he’d face if conscious.
This is an update of a discussion from last Friday.
