Army Sergeant Daniel Perry, who was convicted last month of murder in the July 2020 Austin shooting death of a protester, was sentenced to 25 years in prison.
Perry fatally shot Garrett Foster, 28, who had been legally carrying a rifle, at a demonstration against police brutality and racial injustice in downtown Austin.
Perry had stated in texts that he “might have to kill a few people on my way to work.”
- The day after Perry’s conviction, Texas Governor Greg Abbott tweeted that he was working to pardon Perry as quickly as possible.
- The Travis County District Attorney José Garza said that Abbott’s intentions were “deeply troubling” and that “in our legal system, a jury gets to decide whether a defendant is guilty or innocent — not the Governor.”
- Abbott called DA Garza a progressive DA.
Under Texas law, the Board of Pardons and Paroles has to first recommend a pardon before the governor can act on it.
Perry’s attorney says there are plans to appeal. Attorney Clint Broden said Wednesday that he and Perry had hoped for a sentence of 10 years or less and that they will focus on the appeal process.
Perry’s team added, “We also are now in a position to fully cooperate in the Texas pardon process.”
News Views previously covered the trial, look here, and here.