Texas Gov. Greg Abbott on Thursday pardoned Daniel Perry, an Army sergeant sentenced to 25 years in prison for shooting and killing a protester in 2020. The Republican governor issued his pardon after a unanimous recommendation by the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles.
The Board also unanimously voted to recommend a full restoration of Perry’s firearm rights.
“Texas has one of the strongest ‘Stand Your Ground’ laws of self-defense that cannot be nullified by a jury or a progressive District Attorney,” Abbott said in a statement. “I thank the Board for its thorough investigation, and I approve their pardon recommendation.”
Texas law states that the governor can grant a pardon after a recommendation by the state’s Board of Pardons and Paroles, whose members are appointed by the governor.
An investigation into Perry’s case began on April 8th, 2024, at the request of the governor, the parole board said in a statement. The request came one day after Perry was convicted for the murder of Garrett Foster, 28, who was protesting for racial justice and against police brutality in downtown Austin.
Perry’s attorneys said their client, a U.S. Army sergeant who was stationed at Fort Hood at the time of the shooting and working as a ride-share driver, was part of a “political prosecution” and claimed that he acted in self-defense. Foster, a U.S. Air Force veteran, was carrying an AK-47 on July 25, 2020, and Perry’s lawyers argued that Foster approached their client’s vehicle.
Prosecutors said witnesses never saw Foster raise his weapon – and that Perry didn’t need to fire his gun.
Eric Gay / AP
Prosecutors also presented social media posts and messages that they said showed Perry’s state of mind before the shooting. He had searched for phrases including “protest in austin today,” “protest in dallas today” and “protesters in seattle get shot.”
Members of the Board of Pardons and Paroles “delved into the intricacies of Perry’s case” before arriving at their decision, the board said in a statement. “The investigation’s efforts encompassed a meticulous review of relevant documents, from police reports to court records, witness statements, and interviews with individuals linked to the…
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