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A Texas police officer who shot and injured a teenager sitting in his car eating a hamburger has been fired, police said.
San Antonio Officer James Brennand has been fired after he shot 17-year-old Eric Cantu in the parking lot of a fast food restaurant on Oct. 2, police training commander Alyssa Campos said. video statement Released Wednesday.
Campos said Brennand found Cantu in his car in response to another disturbance at a fast food restaurant.
Texas prosecutors said in a statement Friday they had not seen enough evidence to charge the teenager.
Bexar County District Attorney Joe Gonzalez said, “Although the shooting of an unarmed teenager on Sunday by then San Antonio police officers is still under investigation, the facts and evidence received so far have led to Eric’s request for further investigation. We have decided to dismiss the charges against Cantu.” .
Campos said Brennand had been in the military for less than a year and violated training and police procedures after approaching a car.
Campos said “the officer suddenly opened the driver’s door and ordered the driver to get out of the car” before the backup officers that Brennand had requested arrived.
In the officer’s body camera video, Cantu turned to Brennand with a hamburger before reversing the car and hitting the officer with an open door.
Brennand then fired several times as the door closed and Cantu drove away.
Cantu, who was shot, pulled over nearby and was found by police along with an uninjured passenger.
“There is nothing I can say in defense of the officers’ actions that night,” Police Chief William McManus told WOAI-TV. But it didn’t justify the shooting.”
Cantu was hospitalized in a stable condition and was initially charged with police fleeing and aggravated assault.
District Attorney Gonzalez said no decision had been made on whether to pursue charges against Brennand pending the outcome of the police investigation into the shooting.
“As with all police-involved shootings that result in death or serious injury, I will submit this case to a grand jury for consideration. You can’t,” Gonzalez said.
Cantu police and attorneys did not immediately respond to a call for comment on Friday.
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