Army sergeant convicted of killing BLM protester sentenced to 25 years in prison
Jack Birle
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An Army sergeant, who was convicted of murder for fatally shooting an armed protester in July 2020, was sentenced to 25 years in prison on Wednesday.
Daniel Perry was facing as much as life in prison for the murder conviction but was instead given 25 years, per the Associated Press. The case is being reviewed by the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles.
Perry, who was working as a ride-share driver at the time, was found guilty of murder last month for shooting a protester, Garrett Foster, 28, who was armed with an AK-47. The Army sergeant claims that Foster threatened him by approaching his car with the gun as other individuals surrounded the vehicle and banged on the car while participating in a Black Lives Matter protest in Austin, Texas. Perry shot Foster five times with his revolver and then drove away and called 911.
Prosecutors had argued Perry could have driven away. Witnesses testified that Foster did not raise his gun at Perry. The prosecution also claimed Perry started the incident by running a red light and getting too close to protesters, who were blocking the street. Perry claimed that Foster had indicated for him to roll down his window to talk with him, then Foster mumbled something to him and raised his firearm.
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Gov. Greg Abbott (R-TX) called on the state Board of Pardons and Paroles to expedite a review of Perry’s case, saying that he was looking forward “to approving the board’s pardon recommendation as soon as it hits my desk,” in a statement last month.
The Board of Pardons and Paroles does not have a timeline for its recommendation regarding Perry’s case but has confirmed that it received the request from the governor.