A San Antonio police officer has been fired after shooting and wounding a 17-year-old who he approached in a McDonald's parking lot.
On the evening of October 2, San Antonio officer James Brennand was responding to a call regarding a disturbance at one of the fast food giant's restaurants. However, while gathering information from witnesses, Brennand spotted a vehicle that had evaded him the previous day.
Inside the vehicle was 17-year-old Erik Cantu.
On October 1, Brennand had attempted to stop the vehicle, with authorities saying that the former officer had believed the car was stolen.
Police training commander Alyssa Campos said in a video statement earlier this week that neither Cantu or the vehicle were connected to the initial disturbance Brennand was responding to at the McDonald's restaurant.
Campos added that Brennand - who had been a police officer for less than a year - violated his training and police procedures after approaching the car.
"The officer abruptly opened the driver’s door and ordered the driver out of the car," Campos said, adding that Brennand had failed to wait for the arrival of the backup officers that he had requested.
Bodycam footage shows Brannand telling the teenager to "get out of the car". However, the 17-year-old - who could be seen eating a hamburger - put the car in reverse and backed away with the driver door still open.
Brennand then fired five shots into the vehicle.
Cantu then put the car in forward, closed the driver door, and was able to flee the parking lot. As the teen drove away, Brennand fired several more times at the car.
Police later found Cantu, who had been injured by the gunfire. Then teen was hospitalized in stable condition.
Also inside the car was a passenger, who was unharmed in the incident.
Cantu was initially charged with evading police and aggravated assault, but Bexar County District Attorney Joe Gonzales later said in a statement on Friday that he has not seen enough evidence to file charges against the teenager.
"While Sunday’s shooting of an unarmed teenager by a then-San Antonio Police officer remains under investigation, the facts and evidence we have received so far led us to reject the charges against Erik Cantu for further investigation," Gonzales said.
"As we do with all officer-involved shootings that result in death or serious injury, we will submit the case to a Grand Jury for their consideration. Until that happens, we can make no further comment on this matter," Gonzales added, per CBS News.
Additionally, Police Chief William McManus told WOAI-TV: "There is nothing I can say in defense of that officer’s actions that night."
McManus added that although he believes "there was some contact made", it "did not justify the shooting".