Texas governor pardons ex-Army sergeant convicted of killing Black Lives Matter protester
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott issued a proclamation Thursday, granting a full pardon to a former U.S. Army sergeant who was convicted of murdering a Black Lives Matter protester in 2020.
The Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles voted unanimously to recommend the pardon and recommended restoring U.S. Army Sgt. Daniel Perry's firearm rights.
The Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles conducted an exhaustive review of U.S. Army Sergeant Daniel Perry’s personal history and the facts surrounding the July 2020 incident and recommended a Full Pardon and Restoration of Full Civil Rights of Citizenship," Abbott said.Among the voluminous files reviewed by the Board, they considered information provided by the Travis County District Attorney, the full investigative report on Daniel Perry, plus a review of all the testimony provided at trial," the governor added. "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. I thank the Board for its thorough investigation, and I approve their pardon recommendation."Perry was found guilty in April 2023 of fatally shooting Garrett Foster, who was attending a BLM protest in Austin following the murder of George Floyd in 2020. He was sentenced to 25 years in prison.
The day after Perry's conviction, Abbott requested that the parole board investigate and make a recommendation regarding a potential pardon for Perry.
A statement by the parole board said its members conducted a thorough review of the case, examining police reports, court records, witness statements and conducting interviews with individuals connected to the case. The board's unanimous decision to recommend a full pardon was reached Thursday, May 16, and conveyed to Gov. Abbott.
When Abbott first called for the pardon in April 2023, the move drew strong criticism from Democrats and the Travis County District Attorney's office, which prosecuted the case. The DA's office called Abbott's actions "dangerous" and said they amounted to "political gamesmanship" that threatened the integrity of the justice system.
State Sen. Sarah Eckhardt accused the governor of pardoning "a murderer" and called it "a stunning and dangerous abrogation of the rule of law."
Garrett Foster's mother, Sheila Foster, said at the time that Abbott's pardon request was another way they were unable to get peace or justice. She said the family had received incessant and painful messages from strangers both online and in-person.
I am baffled actually. I just cannot believe this is my life and this is what's happening. and it has got me overwhelmed with anxiety and the ability to move on," Sheila Foster said in February 2024. "I would absolutely love to get some closure and some justice in this deal."It remains to be seen how the Foster family and other critics will react to the pardon.
During his trial, Perry admitted to shooting Foster while driving for Uber through the Austin protest, but claimed he acted in self-defense. Foster was armed at the time he was killed.
Some of the evidence presented at trial included private messages and social media posts from Perry pertaining to what qualifies as a "good shoot" and discussions of various protest shootings.
The Travis County jury ultimately rejected Perry's claim of self-defense and found him guilty of murder after a multi-week trial. The 25-year prison sentence was handed down a few days later.
Since Abbott accepted the parole board's recommendation, Perry will be released from prison and have his rights fully restored.
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