James Brennand, the San Antonio police officer who shot teenager Erik Cantu multiple times while putting him on life support, has been charged with two counts of aggravated assault by a peace officer.
Brennand turned himself in to police Tuesday night and remained in custody, Police Chief William McManus said.
According to San Antonio Police, the charges against 25-year-old Brennand were filed following a criminal investigation into the shooting in which he abruptly shot 17-year-old Cantu while he was in his car eating a cheeseburger.
Several of Cantu’s organs were punctured in the shooting and he is currently on life support, according to his family.
According to lawyer Brian Powers, who spoke to , Erik Cantu’s family said the teenager had to undergo a series of surgeries to repair vital organs that had been damaged by gunfire
Officer James Brennand, 25, has been charged with two counts of aggravated assault after 17-year-old Erik Cantu was shot while he was in his car eating a cheeseburger
A 17-year-old boy who was shot multiple times by an inexperienced police officer while sitting in his car eating a McDonald’s cheeseburger is currently on life support after several of his organs were punctured during the shooting.
Eric Cantu pictured on his Facebook page in September 2022
Even as Cantu drives away, Brennand continues to fire into the vehicle
Cantu’s lungs are effectively powered by the life support machine and he remains sedated while his body takes whatever time it needs to recover.
Powers said Cantu faces a long road to recovery but his family is grateful for the prayers they have received.
Brennand is a married ex-serviceman who was praised for his firearms skills while in the police academy.
Erik is still in critical condition and is being closely monitored. Operations were performed to repair injuries to some major organs as a result of multiple bullet penetration
Erik Cantu was hospitalized after the shooting at the nearby University Hospital. After the shooting, Brennand performed CPR while waiting for paramedics.
“Erik and our family would like to thank all of our family, our friends, the great city of San Antonio and everyone around the world who has sent their heartfelt prayers and blessings,” Powers said in a statement.
“Erik is still in critical condition and is being closely monitored. Operations were performed to repair injuries to some major organs as a result of multiple bullet penetration. Erik is currently on life support which keeps his lungs working and continues to be on a large dose of sedatives to hopefully ease the aches and pains.
“He has a great medical staff who have worked diligently around the clock to give him great care. Erik is struggling and we know his recovery will not be easy. Every moment is critical and the uncertainty is quite painful. We ask everyone to keep Erik in your thoughts and prayers.’
Last Wednesday, the San Antonio Police Department acted quickly by firing Brennand.
At the time of his resignation, he was still on probation, so cannot be challenged, and had only been in office for seven months.
Law enforcement initially brought charges against the teenager for evading arrest and assaulting a police officer, but these have since been dropped.
According to his LinkedIn page, Brennand previously served in the US Army as a military dog handler. He entered in 2016. Brennand was stationed outside of Seattle
Brennand and his wife in a Photoshopped image created by their realtor after Arnold was absent when the couple closed a home in 2021
Under Texas law, his family was only allowed to be at his bedside for a limited amount of time due to pending charges against the teenager.
Prior to the video’s release, Brennand claimed he only opened fire on Cantu after the teenager hit him with his car. The new video shows something different.
Brennand was called to McDonald’s after a reported incident unrelated to Cantu. When the officer arrived at the scene, he apparently mistook the teenager’s car for a vehicle that had swerved him the previous night.
This car had pulled away from Brennand when he tried to stop it because its license plates did not match the car.
Brennand is no stranger to shooting — he placed fourth in the firearms category in his police cadet class in 2021.
Brennand approached Cantu’s maroon car and called for cover, but quickly tried to take matters into his own hands and opened the car door.
Police have not confirmed whether Cantu’s car was stolen.
Video captures the moment Brennand surprised Cantu and demanded the teenager get out of the car.
When Cantu questioned the officer’s orders, he attempted to reverse and the door catches Brennand.
Brennand quickly opened fire and shot the driver’s side of the vehicle as Cantu backed up, and the bodycam footage caught the officer shouting “Shots fired!” into his radio.
Cantu pulled out of the parking lot and tried to drive away, but Brennand kept firing into the back of the vehicle.
The teens were then found outside the vehicle a block from the shooting.
The former police officer has a child with his wife Danielle Arnold, Arnold is also a dog handler in the US Army
At a news conference Friday, Bexar County District Attorney Joe Gonzales confirmed that after reviewing the video, his office had directed the police department to drop the charges against Cantu.
Gonzales also updated the public on Cantu’s condition, saying, “This young man is in critical but stable condition in hospital. There was a problem with his parents being able to have extended contact with him. I understand it’s a touch and go situation.
He added, “Using my discretion, I have decided to dismiss this case for the time being so that his family can be by his side.”
He continued: “My concern at the moment is this young man’s health, his parents’ ability to be by his side and that’s why we did what we did. It will take some time for the SAPD to submit the full case to us and then we will make the decision.’
“I commend the San Antonio Police Department for taking the action they took to terminate this individual because they clearly had concerns. It is commendable that members of this department saw fit to terminate this individual,” the district attorney added.
Cantu’s lungs are effectively powered by the life support machine and he remains sedated while his body takes whatever time it needs to recover
According to Cantu’s Facebook page, he works at The Wash Tub, a San Antonio-based auto service company.
His former manager, Christopher Montalvo, told KSAT that Cantu worked at the company for three months earlier this year.
Montalvo said he last saw Cantu two weeks ago when he came to a car wash. He said: “Good laughs, just normal human stuff. Nothing really serious. I never got a bad vibe from (Cantu). He’s always been a really good guy to me and he’s always respected me. Every time I told him to do something, he always did it and he worked hard.’
The warden did not know that Cantu had been shot. When shown the video by a KSAT reporter, Montalvo said, “It’s hard to watch. That’s scary. I’m speechless, honestly. (Cantu) looks scared. He looks scared. He doesn’t know what’s going on. He was eating in his car. That right there, that didn’t look right to me personally.
As Cantu reversed, the vehicle’s door reportedly hit Brennand, and the officer then drew his gun and immediately began shooting at the teenage couple
Brennand repeatedly shoots the driver’s side window and yells “shots fired” into his radio, and Cantu attempts to drive away
Posts on Cantu’s Facebook page show a keen interest in cars, with several pictures showing him in front of a Dodge Charger, comments from which suggest he just bought it in May.
Under the picture, his grandmother wrote: “My boy, I am very happy for you, I only ask one thing, drive safe and take care of yourself, love you very much, God is good.”
He replied: “I appreciate it Liz. You were always like a mother to me. You always treated me like I was your son. I can’t wait to show you!’
In February, he posted a photo showing himself behind the wheel of a Ford Bronco. In March he posted a video showing him on the passenger side of a Ferrari.
In the introduction to his page, Cantu wrote: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart; and do not lean on your own mind. KJV Proverbs 3:5.’