On Thursday, Texas Governor Greg Abbott granted a full pardon to a former U.S. Army sergeant who had been convicted of murder for fatally shooting Black Lives Matter protester, Garrett Foster.
Following a unanimous decision from the Texas Board of Pardons, they decided to restore firearms rights to former U.S. Army sergeant Perry. Perry, who has been serving a 25-year sentence since his 2023 conviction, will now have his record cleared. The Republican governor had directed the board to review Daniel Perry’s case and had stated that he would grant a pardon if it was recommended. The board, appointed by the governor, publicly announced its unanimous decision on the agency’s website, and Governor Abbott promptly issued the pardon.
“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,” Abbott said in a statement.
“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,” Abbott said.
Perry was found guilty of murder by a jury in Austin for the killing of 28-year-old Garrett Foster, an Air Force veteran who was lawfully carrying an AK-47 during a Black Lives Matter protest. At the time of the incident in July 2020, Perry was employed as a ride-share driver and had driven onto a street filled with protesters, where he shot Foster before fleeing the scene.
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Doug O’Connell, an attorney for Perry, said in a statement his client is “thrilled” to be free and thanked Abbott and the Texas Board of Pardons and Parole.
“I spoke with Daniel this afternoon. He is thrilled and elated to be free. Daniel is also optimistic for his future,” O’Connell said in a statement obtained by CNN. “He wishes that this tragic event never happened and wishes he never had to defend himself against Mr. Foster’s unlawful actions. At the same time, Daniel recognizes that the Foster family is grieving. We are anxious to see Daniel reunited with his family and loved ones.”