Current Events > Cop who shot at teen armed with a burger to be charged with aggravated assault.

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Ex-Texas cop charged for shooting teen eating hamburger

SAN ANTONIO (AP) A now-former San Antonio police officer was charged Tuesday with two counts of aggravated assault by a peace officer for shooting and gravely wounding a teen eating a hamburger in his car in a McDonalds parking lot. The teen had begun driving away when the officer opened fire.

James Brennand, 27, was charged in the Oct. 2 shooting of Erik Cantu, 17, according to a police statement. He turned himself in to police Tuesday night and remained in custody, said Police Chief William McManus.

Cantu is still unconscious and on life support, his family said Tuesday.

There is no improvement in his condition, the family said in a statement delivered by their lawyer, Brian Powers. The last two days have been difficult, and we expect more difficulty ahead, but we remain hopeful.

Brennand, a rookie officer, reported the vehicle Cantu was sitting in had evaded him the night before during an attempted traffic stop. Brennand said he suspected the vehicle was stolen.

In body camera footage released by police, Brennand opens the car door and tells Cantu to get out. The car drives backward with the door open, and the officer fires multiple times into the vehicle. He continues to shoot as the car drives away.

Investigators quickly determined that the use of deadly force was unwarranted, and Brennand was fired. Charges against Cantu of aggravated assault and evading arrest were dropped.

A police spokesperson did not immediately respond to an inquiry about whether the vehicle was actually stolen.

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

In a press conference Tuesday evening, the police chief defended the departments training and said the failures were those of the individual officer.

In an appearance on CNN earlier Tuesday, McManus said he expected aggravated assault charges would be filed, and murder charges in the event Cantu dies.

McManus said Brennands body camera video was horrific.

There is no question in anybodys mind looking at that video that the shooting is not justified, McManus said.

Police officials and the Bexar County District Attorneys Office did not immediately return messages from The Associated Press. Brennand has no published telephone number and could not be reached for comment.

Cantus condition, as related in his familys statement, is in stark contrast to what police officials said in the wake of the shooting: that Cantu was hospitalized in stable condition.

Wed 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 everyones continued prayers for our son, the family said.

Should've been attempted murder at least tbh

Wait so was the car stolen? Was it the guy that evaded him last night?

Wait so was the car stolen? Was it the guy that evaded him last night?

Nope.

It wasn't, it was just a similar vehicle. Dude had nothing to do with it as far as I understand.

What happened to attempted murder charge? Cops can do anything they want to citizens in this country, America is messed up

You can assault someone without attempting to murder them.

with a hand gun?

Maybe I'm wrong, but "attempted murder" sounds like a value judgement to me.

Was the officer's intent to murder this person? Based on the story it sounds much more likely that his intent was to stop a fugitive escaping.

The article even says the charge will be upgraded to murder if the victim dies. Because you can murder someone without having attempted to do so.

This all seems very logical to me.

What happened to attempted murder charge? Cops can do anything they want to citizens in this country, America is messed up

In some cases, aggravated assault is a First Degree Felony. If convicted, the judge must sentence you to at least five years in prison. However, the potential range could be up to 99 years or life in prison.

What does that mean on the penalty scale?

What's the penalty for that, he doesn't get dessert with his dinner?

Was the officer's intent to murder this person? Based on the story it sounds much more likely that his intent was to stop a fugitive escaping.

Maybe I'm wrong, but "attempted murder" sounds like a value judgement to me.

Was the officer's intent to murder this person? Based on the story it sounds much more likely that his intent was to stop a fugitive escaping.

The article even says the charge will be upgraded to murder if the victim dies. Because you can murder someone without having attempted to do so.

This all seems very logical to me.

Maybe I'm wrong, but "attempted murder" sounds like a value judgement to me.

This is spoken like a boot licking simp.

YOU DON'T SHOOT ANYTHING YOU DON'T INTEND TO MAKE DEAD.

I think you quoted the wrong person

Maybe I'm wrong, but "attempted murder" sounds like a value judgement to me.

Was the officer's intent to murder this person? Based on the story it sounds much more likely that his intent was to stop a fugitive escaping.

The article even says the charge will be upgraded to murder if the victim dies. Because you can murder someone without having attempted to do so.

This all seems very logical to me.