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LULAC CALLS KSAT TV NEWS REPORT IN COP SHOOTING OF LATINO TEEN RECKLESS AND A PLOY BY FIRED OFFICER

Nation's Oldest and Largest Latino Civil Rights Organization Says Uncorroborated Story Based on Alleged Interview with a Minor Attacks the Victim Who Remains Near Death

Washington, DC - The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) issued a statement on a broadcast news report involving the shooting on October 2, 2022, in San Antonio, Texas, of 17-year-old Erik Cantu, who was eating in a car with a female friend outside a fast-food restaurant. KSAT TV, an ABC affiliate owned by Graham Media Group, aired a report Monday quoting from an uncorroborated interview allegedly given to police by a 17-year-old passenger in Cantu's car. The story states the teen told investigators Cantu had attempted to evade police the night before the shooting. This was the same allegation made by officer James Brennand as his reason for approaching the parked vehicle moments before he opened fire. Brennand shot ten rounds at the car as Cantu drove off, striking the teen four times. Cantu remains in the hospital on life support. WARNING: Video is graphic.

Domingo García – LULAC National President
"LULAC spoke to the station’s management who stands by its reporting as accurate and objective. We cannot condone how they could air a story that blames the Latino victim for being shot by an out-of-control police officer. Their entire report is based on statements allegedly made by a female minor who has just survived a very traumatic experience, and the victim is fighting for his life. It is reckless and irresponsible to put out an uncorroborated narrative and attempt to justify an indefensible shooting, even if Cantu did evade officers the night before. LULAC sees through this thinly disguised ploy by the officer's defense attorney, but it will not work, and our community demands justice. Shame on KSAT TV for crossing the line and allowing itself to be used in this ploy."

Rudy Rosales – Texas LULAC State Director
"Our focus is on Erik and a community vigil tonight at 7 PM at the McDonald's where the shooting happened at 11700 Blanco Road in San Antonio. It is sad that anyone would try to turn the tragedy into blaming the person eating a burger when his door is suddenly yanked open, and he is startled into fight or flight. Hindsight is always 20-20, but the facts here are ten times clearer; those gunshots could have been fired at any one of us if the justification in a bad cop's mind is, I think that person did something wrong the day before, so I'll settle it now. We thank the San Antonio Police Department and Bexar County District attorney for protecting due process and not releasing information sensitive to the case. They should not be blamed for someone else leaking this to the media."

About LULAC

The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) is the nation's largest and oldest Hispanic civil rights volunteer-based organization that empowers Hispanic Americans and builds strong Latino communities. Headquartered in Washington, DC, with 1,000 councils around the United States and Puerto Rico, LULAC's programs, services, and advocacy address the most important issues for Latinos, meeting the critical needs of today and the future. For more information, visit https://lulac.org/