Former SAPD officer James Brennand points a weapon at a maroon BMW driven by Erik Cantu on Oct. 22, 2022. Credit: Screen Capture: YouTube / San Antonio Police Department

The former San Antonio police officer accused of shooting an unarmed teenager nearly three years ago in a McDonald’s parking lot will go to trial in August on charges of aggravated assault by a public servant, District Judge Joel Perez ruled Friday, according to the Express-News.

The one-time officer, James Brennand, was initially charged with attempted murder for the shooting of Erik Cantu during an incident captured on video that grabbed national headlines. Those charges were later downgraded, however.

Perez set an Aug. 25 trial date with jury selection set to begin earlier in the summer, the daily reports.

Brennand’s trial was initially set for April. However, the date was postponed so the court could review new evidence.

On Oct. 22, 2022, then-probationary officer Brennand allegedly shot Cantu multiple times after he spotted the teenager’s BMW parked in a McDonalds parking lot. Brennand told authorities he recognized the car from a pursuit the night before and thought Cantu had stolen it because the tags didn’t match the vehicle.

SAPD later confirmed the car wasn’t stolen.

Brennand approached the BMW, opened Cantu’s car door and ordered him to get out. Brennand opened fire after the teen put the car into reverse. Bullets struck Cantu in the stomach, diaphragm, lungs and arm. He spent two months in critical care in a San Antonio hospital.

Cantu was initially charged with evading arrest and assault on a peace officer in relation to the incident. However, Bexar County District Attorney Joe Gonzales later dropped those charges.

Earlier this month, Cantu was released from a court-ordered drug treatment facility stemming from unrelated charges.

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This article appears in May 29 – Jun 11, 2025.

Michael Karlis is a multimedia journalist at the San Antonio Current, whose coverage in print and on social media focuses on local and state politics. He is a graduate of American University in Washington,...