Texas Governor Pardons Daniel Perry, Veteran Who Shot Armed BLM Protester

Mr. Perry was convicted on April 7, 2023, on murder charges for killing Garrett Foster on July 25, 2020.

U.S. Army Sgt. Daniel Perry in file images. Courtesy of Broden & Mickelsen/Austin Police Department

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has pardoned former U.S. Army Sgt. Daniel Perry, who was convicted of murder and sentenced to 25 years in prison for shooting an armed Black Lives Matter (BLM) protester who wielded an AK-47.

Mr. Abbott issued a proclamation on May 16 indicating that Mr. Perry has been granted a full pardon and restoration of full civil rights of citizenship, while taking aim at Travis County District Attorney Jose Garza for allegedly directing the lead investigator to withhold exculpatory evidence and demonstrating “unethical and biased misuse” of his office in prosecuting Mr. Perry.