'The Constitution matters': Governor Greg Abbott issues full pardon to Army Veteran in 2020 BLM Riot defensive shooting

AUSTIN, TX - Daniel Scott Perry, the former U.S. Army Sergeant found guilty of murder after he shot and killed armed rioter Garrett Foster in self-defense in 2020 has been issued a full pardon by Texas Governor Greg Abbott.

Perry reportedly was driving for Uber on July 25th, 2020 when the streets of Austin, TX were taken over by BLM rioters. His vehicle was "immediately surrounded by aggressive protestors who rushed to obstruct, strike, pound, smash, and kick his vehicle," according to the Texas Board of Pardons and Parole's findings. 
 

My statement regarding the pardon of Sgt. Daniel Perry. pic.twitter.com/t7UMWdeOV2

— Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) May 16, 2024

It was at this point, that Garret Foster reportedly "approached within 18 inches of Daniel Scott Perry’s car, confronted him, and brandished a Kalashnikov-style rifle in the low-ready firing position."

Perry, responding to the perceived threat drew his handgun and opened fire at Foster striking him fatally. Within one minute, Perry dialed 911 as an unidentified shooter in the crowd of rioters returned fire, forcing him to flee. He then fully cooperated with law enforcement.

“I made a wrong turn, a guy pointed a freakin weapon at me and I panicked. I don’t know what to do. I’m just an Uber driver. I made a wrong turn; I’ve never had to shoot someone before. They started shooting back at me, and I got out of the area,” Perry told dispatchers according to The Post Millennial.

Daniel Perry was working as an Uber driver in Austin, TX when he found himself in the middle of a BLM mob.

A guy came up to his car and pointed an AK-47 at him and he fired back in self defense.

He was indicted for murder by a Soros-funded DA and was just found guilty. pic.twitter.com/bx5kLXzqva

— Greg Price (@greg_price11) April 7, 2023

In a statement released with Abbott's proclamation the Governor said, "The Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles conducted an exhaustive review of U.S. Army Sergeant Daniel Perry’s personal history and the facts surrounding the July 2020 incident and recommended a Full Pardon and Restoration of Full Civil Rights of Citizenship.

"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. 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."

In the text of the pardon proclamation, Abbott and the Texas Board of Pardons and Parole roundly condemned Travis County District Attorney José Garza for the conduct of Perry's prosecution, stating, "rather than upholding the selfdefense rights of citizens, [he] has prioritized 'reducing access to guns' that citizens may use to lawfully defend themselves."

Further, they determined that Garza "directed the lead detective investigating Daniel Scott Perry to withhold exculpatory evidence from the Grand Jury considering whether to report an indictment," and 'has not sought to see that justice is done,' [according to Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 2.01], but has instead demonstrated unethical and biased misuse of his office."

In a post to X following the announcement, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton wrote, "Governor Abbott has just pardoned Sergeant Daniel Perry after a unanimous recommendation by the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles. Americans across the country have been watching this case in Texas and praying for justice after BLM riots terrorized the nation in 2020. Our right to self-defense is enshrined in the Constitution. Soros-backed prosecutors like Jose Garza do not get to pick and choose the rights we have as Americans, and I am relieved that justice has prevailed."