Today, District Attorney Joe Gonzales announced that a Bexar County Grand Jury has concluded its review of the shooting of unarmed teenager Erik Cantu on October 2, 2022. The Grand Jury returned an indictment against former San Antonio police officer James Brennand for two counts of Aggravated Assault by a Public Servant and one count of Attempted Murder.
The first count of Aggravated Assault by a Public Servant is for shooting Erik Cantu. The second count of Aggravated Assault by a Public Servant is for shooting at or in the direction of Emily Proulx. Aggravated Assault by a Public Servant is a first degree felony with a range of punishment between 5 years and life in prison.
The Attempted Murder count is for attempting to cause the death of Erik Cantu. Attempted Murder is a second degree felony with a range of punishment between 2 years and 20 years in prison.
“No one should have to sit by their child in a hospital and worry about whether they will make it through the night, or the next day, or the week,” said Bexar County District Attorney Joe Gonzales in a statement. “My heart breaks knowing that the Cantu family went through that. The harm that results from acts like those James Brennand committed against young Mr. Cantu ripples throughout the community. We know that most officers in this city care deeply about this community, but we cannot have a safe city if the community does not have trust in the criminal justice system.”
Given the Grand Jury’s findings, the Bexar County District Attorney’s Office will now proceed with the prosecutions against James Brennand. “It is my hope,” said District Attorney Gonzales, “that by vigorously investigating and prosecuting this case, we can help to increase faith in this system, even if we can never repair and stem all the pain and suffering experienced by the Cantu family.”