A Texas police officer who opened fire on an unarmed teenager eating a hamburger in a McDonald’s parking lot has been fired.
San Antonio Officer James Brennand was fired following the shooting of Erik Cantu (17) in a McDonald’s parking garage on October 2, according to Alyssa Campbell, a police training commander. Video statementReleased Wednesday
According to police, Officer James Brennand responded in an emergency to a call from the restaurant. Brennand was soon distracted by Cantu’s parked car. He claimed that the car had evaded him on the previous day During an attempted traffic stop.
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In a statement, a Texas prosecutor stated that he had not seen sufficient evidence to bring charges against the teenager.
“While Sunday’s shooting of an unarmed teenager by a then-San Antonio Police officer remains under investigation, the facts and evidence we have received so far led us to reject the charges against Erik Cantu for further investigation,” Bexar County District Attorney Joe Gonzales said.
Campos claimed that Brennand, a less than one-year veteran of the police force, had violated his trainings and police procedures by approaching the car.
Brennand is seen in body-camera footage walking up to Cantu’s car and opening the driver’s side door.
“The officer abruptly opened the driver’s door and ordered the driver out of the car” before the Arrival of backup officersCampos stated that Brennand had requested this.
Cantu, in the officer’s body camera video, looks toward Brennand while holding a hamburger, then backs the car away, striking the officer with the open door.
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Brennand lit the fire again as Cantu closed the door.
Multiple bullets hit CantuPolice said that he was found just one block away.
“There is nothing I can say in defense of that officer’s actions that night,” Police Chief William McManus told WOAI-TV. “I believe there was contact at first, but that didn’t justify the shooting.”
Cantu was admitted to a hospital in stable condition. He was initially charged with evading the police and aggravated assault.
“The facts and evidence that we have so far have led us to reject Erik Cantu’s charges for further investigation,” Joe Gonzales, Bexar County District Attorney, stated.
Gonzales, the district lawyer, stated that no decision has been made about whether Brennand should be charged. The outcome of a police inquiryIn the shooting.
“As with all officer-involved shootings that end in death or serious injuries, we will submit this case to a Grand Jury. Gonzales stated that we cannot comment further on the matter until then.
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This report was contributed by The Associated Press.