Texas Gov. Abbott seeks to pardon soldier who killed armed BLM protestor in self-defense

Texas Governor Greg Abbott said on Sunday that he is working to pardon a man who was convicted of killing an armed protester at a Block Lives Matter protest in 2020. 

Daniel Perry, an active-duty U.S. Army sergeant based at Fort Hood, was convicted on Friday for killing Garett Foster, 28, in Austin, Texas on July 25, 2020. Perry is awaiting his sentencing and could face up to life in prison. 

At the time of the shooting, Perry was working as a driver for a ride-sharing company when he turned into a street with a large crowd of demonstrators in downtown Austin protesting against police brutality and racial injustice. His car was surrounded by the protesters, which included Foster, who was pushing his fiancee in a wheelchair. 

According to police, Foster was carrying an AK-47-type rifle when he approached the car and was shot several times by Perry. A video of the incident shows the car honking several times before shots are heard and the crowd starts running away. 

Perry’s attorneys argue that the sergeant had no choice but to shoot Foster in order to protect himself. However, prosecutors claim Perry could have driven away instead of firing. 

“We’re happy with the verdict. We’re very sorry for his family as well. There’s no winners in this,” Stephen Foster, the victim’s father, told reporters Friday.

Abbott criticized the jury’s decision to convict Perry, adding that he requested the Board of Pardons and Paroles to take up Perry’s case and determine if he could be granted a pardon. Under the Texas constitution, the governor can only issue a pardon by the recommendation of the board. 

“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 an online statement.

“I look forward to approving the Board’s pardon recommendation as soon as it hits my desk,” Abbott added.