San Antonio cop James Brennand began barking commands at a surprised 17-year-old boy eating fast food in his car in a McDonald’s parking lot, shot him when the car rolled back, then shot several more times into the moving vehicle as the panicked, injured youngster tried to drive away.
The boy, not a suspect in any crime, was charged with assaulting a police officer after being taken to the hospital: Brennard lied in his police report, falsely claiming to have been struck by the teen’s vehicle.
Not only did this not happen, but the vehicle’s movement prior to him the opening fire was likely just the startled teen taking his foot off the brake. Bernard was fired as media interest gathered; his unnamed victim is reportedly in critical condition.
The video showed Brennand on an unrelated call when he spotted a maroon vehicle in a McDonald’s parking lot and concluded it had recently fled from him.
Brennand called for assistance, approached the car, and opened the driver’s side door. Erik Cantu and an unnamed 17-year-old female passenger were inside, per a police report described by KSAT-TV.
“Get out of the car!” Brennand told Cantu, who was munching on a McDonald’s burger.
“Why?” Cantu asked as his vehicle began to move backward. Brennand responded by firing his gun multiple times.
It’s unclear from the footage whether the teen was backing up due to taking his foot off the brake or if he put the car into reverse, the San Antonio Current noted.
Cantu suffered multiple gunshot wounds in the shooting, KSAT-TV reported. He was brought to a nearby hospital where he is reportedly recovering, according to KENS-TV.
The unnamed passenger was reportedly not injured.
Cantu was also charged with evading detention and assault on a police officer, mySA noted.
The shooting investigation could take up to one year to complete as the Bexar County District Attorney’s Office reviews evidence from the shooting and charges against Cantu.
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