SAN ANTONIO – A former San Antonio police officer who shot a teenager in a McDonald’s parking lot in 2022 is expected back in court today.
The hearing begins at 9 a.m. and could be the final pretrial hearing before James Brennand faces a jury.
A judge is scheduled to consider a motion for continuance filed by Brennand’s attorneys, which could delay the start of his trial.
The case stems from the Oct. 2, 2022, shooting of Erik Cantu in the parking lot of a McDonald’s near Blanco Road and West Avenue.
Body camera video shows Brennand repeatedly ordering Cantu to get out of the car. Cantu instead put the vehicle in reverse and drove away with the driver’s door still open, striking Brennand with the door as he fled.
Brennand then fired multiple shots, critically wounding Cantu. The teenager spent months in the hospital before recovering. Since then, Cantu has been arrested on several unrelated charges.
Brennand is charged with aggravated assault by a public servant. If convicted, he could face up to life in prison.
Jury selection is currently scheduled to begin next week, but today’s hearing could push that timeline back.