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On Sunday, October 2, a San Antonio police officer responded to a disturbance call in a McDonald's parking lot. However, this ended in gunfire when the officer approached two teenagers in a car who refused to obey his commands.
The San Antonio police officer, identified as James Brennand, approached a car in the McDonald's parking lot and asked the two teenagers, who were eating inside the car, to get out, all the while pointing a gun at them. However, 17-year-old Eric Cantu, who was behind the wheel, allegedly started driving with his door still open. It was then that officer James Brennand opened fire on the teenagers.
In the chilling video, Officer Brennand can be seen opening the door of Cantu's car while aiming a firearm at the teenager. As soon as the car rolls backwards, gunshots can be heard, which continues even as the car drives away.
Trigger warning: The following video is graphic in nature. Viewer's discretion is advised.
Eric Cantu sustained several gunshot wounds and is currently undergoing treatment at a local hospital. The other person in the passenger seat escaped unharmed.
Brennand was fired by the San Antonio Police Department on Wednesday, October 5, after being placed on administrative duty following the McDonald's incident. Eric Cantu, meanwhile, was charged by proxy with evading detention in a vehicle and assault on an officer.
What caused the San Antonio officer to open fire on a car in a McDonald's parking lot? Questions arise as Brennand is revealed to be a probationary officer
On Sunday night, 17-year-old Eric Cantu and a female passenger were eating inside a car outside a McDonald's outlet in the 11700 block of Blanco Road near West Avenue when a San Antonio officer approached them with a gun pointed at the car. As the two teenagers tried to drive away, Officer James Brennand opened fire at them, striking Cantu several times.
According to Police Chief William McManus, the 17-year-old was taken to University Hospital, where he underwent surgery. McManus also elaborated on the incident, which led the probationary officer to fire his gun.
Officer Brennand was reportedly responding to an unrelated disturbance call at the local McDonald's. When he approached the car, the driver allegedly attempted to leave and hit the officer in the leg with his car. McManus told media outlets:
"Once he was struck, he drew his firearm and fired multiple times into the car, striking the driver."
An SAPD report further stated that in the parking lot, the officer noticed a vehicle that had evaded him the day before. He suspected the car was stolen and called for cover but approached it before other officers could reach the scene.
When the footage from the scene outside McDonald's was shown to Christopher Montalvo, a supervisor at The Wash Tub, who had previously worked with Cantu, he told KSAT:
"That’s hard to watch. That’s scary. I’m speechless, honestly. [Cantu] looks scared. He looks terrified. He doesn’t know what’s going on. He was just in his car eating. That right there, that personally didn’t look right to me."
James Brennand was fired for violating departmental tactics and procedures. The investigation into the shooting could go on for as long as a year.
