Greg Abbott, the Republican Governor of Texas, announced in a statement that he had pardoned Daniel Perry for his conviction of shooting and killing a Black Lives Matter protester. The process began in April of 2023.
UPDATE: Governor Greg Abbott issued a proclamation Thursday granting a full pardon to U.S. Army Sergeant Daniel Perry, who was convicted of murdering a Black Lives Matter protester in 2020.https://t.co/dS2Z5N71v5
— CBS Austin (@cbsaustin) May 16, 2024
CBS Austin:
Greg Abbott released a proclamation on Thursday that granted a pardon for U.S. Army Sergent Daniel Perry who was convicted in 2020 of killing a Black Lives Matter protester.
The Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles unanimously voted to recommend Perry’s pardon and restore his firearm rights.
The Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles reviewed the personal history of U.S. Army Sergeant Daniel Perry and the facts surrounding his July 2020 incident. They recommended a Full Pardon and restoration of full civil rights of citizenship. The Board reviewed voluminous documents, including information from the Travis County district attorney, the full investigation report on Daniel Perry, and the trial testimony. Texas has a ‘Stand your Ground’ law of self-defense which cannot be overturned by a District Attorney or jury. “I thank the Board for their thorough investigation and I accept their pardon recommendation.” – Gov. Abbott
Perry was found guilty of shooting Garrett Foster to death in April 2023. Foster was at a BLM demonstration in Austin after the murder of George Floyd. He was sentenced to 25 years in prison.
CBS Austin continues to report on the Governor’s review. Abbott asked the state parole board to recommend the pardon.
In a statement, the board said that its members had conducted a thorough investigation into the case. They examined police reports, court documents, and witness statements, and interviewed individuals involved in the case. The board’s unanimous decision to recommend a full pardon was reached Thursday, May 16, and conveyed to Gov. Abbott.