A still from the former police officer James Brennand’s bodycam footage as he opens Erik Cantu’s car door on October 2, in San Antonio, Texas. San Antonio Police Department/YouTube A 17-year-old boy is on life support after being shot by a police officer in San Antonio, Texas. The officer, who’s been fired, shot at Erik Cantu while he ate a burger in a McDonald’s parking lot.
Cantu’s lawyer said “bullets brutally tore through his stomach, liver, diaphragm, lungs and arms. ” The 17-year-old boy who was shot by a Texas police officer multiple times in a McDonald’s parking lot is undergoing surgery to patch up holes in his organs, according to the family lawyer. The lawyer, Brian Powers, told Insider that Erik Cantu, who appeared to be eating a burger in his car before he was shot on October 2, remains on life support.
“It’s been two weeks of pure misery since the day Erik was shot multiple times at close range with a . 40 caliber,” said Power in a text message on behalf of the family. “The bullets brutally tore through his stomach, liver, diaphragm, lungs and arms,” Powers continued.
“Bullets from the two rounds grazed him deeply on other places of his body. His body has suffered so much from the damage and invasive surgeries to keep him alive. “A friend of Cantu’s, George Ramos, said Cantu was active and athletic.
Ramos recalled days spent playing sports, roller skating, and hanging out with Cantu and other friends outside school. “He was probably the fastest out of all of us,” Ramos said. “He’s quick on those skates.
“Ramos added: “He’s a very ambitious kid. He always had big goals, and he still has big goals. ” The officer, James Brennand, was fired two days after the shooting.
Brennand, 25, was arrested and charged with two counts of aggravated assault by a public servant, according to the San Antonio Homicide Unit. He posted a $200,000 bond and has been released, said the Bexar County district attorney’s office, which is investigating the incident. Body-camera footage released by the San Antonio Police Department shows Brennand, a probationary officer with seven months on the job, approaching a black car on foot.
The officer abruptly opens the driver-side door, revealing Cantu, who appears to have just taken a bite of the burger in his hand. “Get out of the car,” Brennand can be heard saying. “Why?” Cantu asks and then puts the car in reverse.
Brennand appears to struggle with Cantu as he reverses the car with the driver’s-side door still open. Cantu then attempts to drive away, and Brennand begins firing at the car, shooting at least 10 rounds, the footage shows. Brennand had been at the McDonald’s responding to an unrelated incident, Captain Alyssa Campos, the SAPD training commander, said in a video statement.
Brennand thought that Cantu’s car had evaded him earlier in the day at a traffic stop, and he suspected it might be stolen, Campos said. A 17-year-old girl who was in the car with Cantu did not sustain injuries. Brennand could not be reached for comment.
The San Antonio police chief, William McManus, called the incident “horrific” on CNN. “There is no question in anybody’s mind looking at that video that the shooting is not justified,” McManus said, adding that the department has a policy against shooting at moving vehicles unless someone is in “immediate” danger. George Ramos said he keeps replaying the video of Brennand firing at Cantu and the images “broke” him.
“My friend looked so scared,” he said. “He was startled. He thought he was probably getting carjacked or something.
“Read the original article on Insider.
From: insider
URL: https://www.insider.com/17-erik-cantu-life-support-officer-shooting-surgery-stomach-liver-2022-10
