A teen who was shot by police in a McDonald’s parking lot is unconscious and on life support, his lawyer says

A still from then-police officer James Brennand’s bodycam footage as he opens Erik Cantu’s car door on October 2, 2022, in San Antonio, Texas. San Antonio Police Department/YouTube A 17-year-old shot by police in a McDonald’s parking lot is on life support, his lawyer says.   Erik Cantu was eating a burger when a Texas officer told him to get out of his car on October 2.

The officer, who has since been fired, shot him as he drove away, bodycam footage shows. A 17-year-old who was shot by police in a Texas McDonald’s car park while he was mid-meal is now unconscious and on life support, his lawyer said Tuesday.  Eric Cantu was shot multiple times by then-Police Officer James Brennand on October 2 in an incident San Antonio Police Department’s Chief William McManus has decried as “indefensible.

“Cantu was hospitalized and, more than a week later, “there is no improvement in his condition,” his lawyer, Brian Powers, told NBC News. “He is still unconscious and is on life support. “His condition is not stable and “every breath is a struggle,” the outlet reported Powers as saying.

His companion in the car was unhurt, CNN reported.  Brennand, the former officer, was fired and turned himself in to police on Tuesday night, per CNN. He faces criminal charges of two counts of aggravated assault by a public servant, the report said.

Insider was unable to immediately reach Brennand for comment.  On October 2, Cantu and an unnamed female 17-year-old were sitting in the fast food chain’s parking lot. Cantu was eating a burger when Brennand approached the car they were in, according to a statement and accompanying bodycam footage released by San Antonio Police Department.

The bodycam footage shows the officer firing at the car, and though it does not depict Cantu being wounded, some viewers may find it disturbing to watch: Brennand was at the McDonald’s in response to an unrelated disturbance call, but spotted the car Cantu was in, in the belief that it had earlier evaded him in a traffic stop, Captain Alyssa Campos, the department’s head of training, said in the statement.  Brennand’s bodycam footage shows him calling for backup but approaching the car before backup arrives. The camera shows him opening the car door to show Cantu look up in surprise, still chewing and with burger packaging in his hands.

“Get out of the car,” Brennand can be heard saying.  When Cantu refused, Brennand lunged towards him, and Cantu reversed away with the door still open. Brennand then shot at the car five times, the footage shows.

Cantu then puts the gear into drive and leaves the car park, with Brennand firing several more shots after him.  Campos said that the car’s license plate did not match the vehicle. Although San Antonio PD initially filed charges against Cantu of evading detention in a vehicle and assaulting a police officer, those charges were later dropped, CNN reported.

According to Campos, the open car door had struck Brennand as Cantu reversed, although this is not immediately clear from the footage.  Campos said that Brennand had served as an officer for seven months and was still on probation when he was fired. His actions were “in violation of departmental tactics, training and procedure,” she said.

But she added that investigations into deadly force can take over a year and may bring other facts to light.  McManus, the police chief, told CNN that the video is “horrific,” adding: “There is no question in anybody’s mind looking at that video that the shooting is not justified. “He said the department has a policy not to shoot at moving vehicles unless there is an immediate danger to life, CNN reported.

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