San Antonio cop fired after shooting teen who was eating a burger in a parking lot
San Antonio, Texas - A police officer has been fired for shooting a teenager who was eating a hamburger in his car in the parking lot of a McDonald's.
Body cam footage shows Officer James Brennand responding to a disturbance call at the fast food restaurant on October 2.
Before entering the McDonald's, he spots a car parked a distance away, which he recognizes. He calls for back up, stating, "I've got a vehicle here that fled from me the other day."
He then approaches the vehicle, and swings the door open, catching the driver, Erik Cantu (17), by surprise.
"Get out of the car," he says to the teen, who responds, "Why?" with a mouth full of food.
Cantu puts the car in reverse, and Brennand lunges at him to pull him from the vehicle. The teen reverses the car, hitting the cop with the open car door. Brennand then fires multiple shots at the car, wounding Cantu as he drove off. He was found stopped nearby with a 17-year-old female passenger who was unharmed.
Cantu's attorney Brian Powers told NBC on Friday that his client was in the hospital "fighting for his life" from multiple gunshot wounds.
Charges against teen dropped by prosecutors
The San Antonio Police Department released a video statement on Wednesday, announcing that the officer had been fired, but no charges were filed against him.
Erik Cantu, on the other hand, was initially charged with evading police and aggravated assault over the incident.
On Friday, Bexar County district attorney Joe Gonzales announced that after reviewing the case and footage, he has decided to dismiss the charges.
"That's not to say that charges can't or won't be brought against that individual, but for now, that is the decision that we are making," he added.
Cantu is reportedly recovering with his family alongside him.
Cover photo: Screenshot / Twitter / @Xx17965797N