A San Antonio police officer who shot and wounded a 17-year-old sitting in a automotive consuming a hamburger has been fired, authorities stated.
Officer James Brennand was fired after taking pictures Erik Cantu on Oct. 2 in a McDonald’s car parking zone, police coaching commander Alyssa Campos stated in a video assertion launched Wednesday.
Cantu’s lawyer Brian Powers stated the teenager was “preventing for his life” after being hospitalized with a number of gunshot wounds, NBC reported Friday.
Brennand had been responding to an unrelated disturbance on the fast-food restaurant when he noticed Cantu inside a automotive, Campos stated. In a physique digicam video launched by authorities, Brennand is heard saying the automotive “fled” from him “the opposite day.”
“Because the officer tried to collect data from witnesses, he seen a automobile that had evaded him the day earlier than because the officer tried a cease as a result of the registered license plate didn’t match the precise automobile,” Campos stated in a video assertion.
Brennand thought the automotive Cantu was in might have been a stolen automobile, Campos stated, although details about the automobile’s possession was not instantly out there.
“The officer abruptly opened the motive force’s door and ordered the motive force out of the automotive” earlier than the arrival of backup officers that Brennand had requested, Campos stated.
Prosecutor will not cost teen
A Texas prosecutor stated in a press release Friday that he has not seen sufficient proof to file prices towards {the teenager}.
“Whereas Sunday’s taking pictures of an unarmed teenager by a then-San Antonio Police officer stays below investigation, the details and proof we’ve obtained thus far led us to reject the costs towards Erik Cantu for additional investigation,” Bexar County District Legal professional Joe Gonzales stated.
Cantu was initially charged with evading police and aggravated assault.
Brennand, who had been on the power for lower than one yr, violated division ways, coaching and procedures after approaching the automotive, Campos stated.
Some officers and civil-rights advocates took to social media, saying the officer confronted the teenager with out stating a purpose.
“James Brennand opened the teenager’s automotive door, demanded he exit his automobile with none purpose and shot him!,” civil rights lawyer Ben Crump stated on Twitter.
What does the body-camera video present?
Vivid body-camera footage launched by authorities chronicles the sudden taking pictures as the teenager was sitting in a automotive. Officer Brennand approaches a parked automotive round 10:45 p.m. and, with out knocking or in any other case asserting his presence, opens the motive force’s aspect door, the video exhibits.
After Brennand tells Cantu “get out of the automotive,” the teenager replies, “what?” with a mouth filled with meals, holding a sandwich wrapped in yellow paper in his lap, video footage exhibits.
The video then exhibits Cantu placing the sedan in reverse and beginning to flip the wheel. Brennand then tries to succeed in contained in the automotive and seize Cantu, who continues to again out of the parking spot, footage exhibits.
The door of the automotive remained open as Cantu began backing away, video exhibits, putting Brennand.
Brennand then fired one shot contained in the automotive whereas the door was nonetheless open, and fired 9 extra instances after Cantu closed the door. Brennand ran after the automotive throughout the McDonald’s parking because it drove away.
Cantu, who was struck by gunfire, stopped close by the place he and a 17-year-old feminine passenger, who was not injured, have been discovered by police.
Will the officer face prices?
“There may be nothing I can say in protection of that officer’s actions that evening,” Police Chief William McManus informed WOAI-TV. “I feel what occurred, initially, there was some contact made, however that didn’t justify the taking pictures.”
Gonzales, the district lawyer, stated no resolution had been made on whether or not to pursue prices towards Brennand, pending the end result of a police investigation into the taking pictures.
“As we do with all officer-involved shootings that lead to loss of life or severe harm, we’ll submit the case to a Grand Jury for his or her consideration. Till that occurs, we will make no additional touch upon this matter,” Gonzales stated.
Police and an lawyer for Cantu didn’t instantly return telephone requires touch upon Friday.
Contributing: Related Press.
