Daniel Perry Wiki: In Austin, Texas on July 25, 2020, Daniel Perry, a 30-year-old man, killed Garrett Foster, a 28-year-old man, during a Black Lives Matter protest that followed the police murder of George Floyd in May 2020. Foster, who was legally carrying an AK-47, approached Perry’s vehicle, and Perry shot and killed him. Perry argued that he acted in self-defense, but a jury found him guilty of murder in April 2023, while he was cleared of an aggravated assault charge. Perry’s social media posts and direct messages revealed his desire to harm protesters, which, along with conflicting statements from eyewitnesses, called into question his self-defense claim. Perry awaits sentencing and could face a prison term ranging from 5 years to life.
Daniel Perry Wiki Overview
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| July 25, 2020 | Daniel Perry, an Uber driver and former US Army sergeant, killed Garrett Foster, a US Air Force veteran, during a Black Lives Matter protest in Austin, Texas. |
| April 2023 | Perry was found guilty of murder, but cleared of an aggravated assault charge, nearly three years after the incident. |
| April 13, 2023 | Additional social media posts and messages were unsealed, revealing Perry’s racist and anti-protester views. |
| May 3, 2023 | Perry’s request for a new trial was denied, and his sentencing was scheduled for May 9, 2023. |
| Ongoing | Conservative commentators and politicians have called for a pardon for Perry, and Texas Governor Greg Abbott has directed the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles to consider a pardon on an expedited basis. |
Murder
On July 25, 2020, Daniel Perry, a former 30-year-old United States Army sergeant, was working as an Uber driver when he encountered a roadblock caused by a protest against police brutality. Initially, Perry stopped his car and honked at the protesters, but later he ran a red light and drove his car into the crowd. In response, Garrett Foster, a 28-year-old United States Air Force veteran who was legally carrying an AK-47, approached Perry in an attempt to stop him from driving into the crowd. Perry then shot and killed Foster, claiming self-defense and alleging that Foster had pointed his gun at him. However, eyewitnesses contradicted this account. During police questioning, Perry stated that he believed Foster was going to aim his gun at him and he didn’t want to give him the chance to do so.
Travis County Man Found Guilty of Murder After Anti-Protester Social Media Posts
Trial
In July 2021, a grand jury indicted Perry on charges of murder and aggravated assault for the killing of Foster almost a year prior. Perry turned himself in and was released on a $300,000 bond. The trial took place in March and April 2023, with the prosecution arguing that Perry had no justification for shooting Foster, who had been exercising his right to open carry. Perry had made numerous social media posts expressing his desire to shoot Black Lives Matter protesters and had even received warnings from friends. Perry’s defense argued that Texas’s stand-your-ground law protected him legally, but the prosecution argued that Foster had not pointed his weapon, and eyewitnesses contradicted Perry’s account. After a week of deliberations, the jury found Perry guilty of murder but not guilty of aggravated assault.
On April 13, 2023, court records were unsealed that revealed more anti-protester social media posts and racist messages made by Perry that the jury did not see or hear. Among these included Perry declaring “I am a racist” and comparing the Black Lives Matter movement to “monkeys” and “animals at the zoo.” On May 3, 2023, Perry’s request for a new trial was denied, and his sentencing was scheduled for May 9, 2023. Perry faces between 5 years to life in prison.
Calls for Pardon of Perry by Conservative Figures
After Perry’s guilty verdict for the murder of Foster, conservative politicians and commentators began calling for Texas Governor Greg Abbott to pardon Perry. They supported Perry’s claim that he acted in self-defense when he shot Foster. Among those who called for a pardon was Texas U.S. Representative Ronny Jackson.[15] Governor Abbott directed the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles to expedite Perry’s pardon request, expressing his intention to approve it as soon as it is presented to him. Abbott stated, “I look forward to approving the Board’s pardon recommendation as soon as it hits my desk.”