The 17-year-old teen shot by a cop in a McDonald’s parking lot must now face another health battle, he’s fighting pneumonia in the hospital.
Erik Cantu‘s family spoke out for the first time Tuesday, revealing he’s got a ton of staples and tubes in his body. There’s also a delicate balancing act between Cantu’s medication and a breathing machine to keep him alive.
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To make things worse, Cantu’s dad, Erik Sr., says the teen is waking up with flashbacks — raising his hands in the air and moving his foot like he’s pushing a car pedal.
Erik’s mom, Victoria, says there was a bullet by his heart — and he was also shot in the stomach, diaphragm, lungs, liver, bicep and forearm.
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As we’ve reported, Cantu was shot multiple times by police officer James Brennand while he was eating a burger in the parking lot of a McDonald’s. Brennand was responding to the restaurant on an unrelated call.
Brennand was fired by the police department and is facing two felony charges of aggravated assault by a public official.
As for Cantu’s family, they remain hopeful the teen will pull through.