Gov. Greg Abbott supports Daniel Perry's request for a pardon after he killed an activist in Austin in 2020

One day after Perry was found guilty of murder, the governor claims he asked the Board of Pardons and Paroles to expedite review and recommend clemency.

One day after a Travis County jury found a U.S. Army sergeant guilty of murdering Austin protester Garrett Foster in 2020, Gov. Greg Abbott ordered the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles to consider recommending a pardon for Daniel Perry.

Jurors on Friday found Perry guilty of murder for shooting and killing Foster, who was carrying an AK-47 while participating in a group protesting police brutality, after 17 hours of deliberations during an eight-day trial. Uber driver Perry had come across the demonstration in downtown Austin, a few blocks from the Capitol

Under pressure from conservatives, Abbott declared on Saturday that he had requested the parole board conduct an urgent review of Perry's conviction. According to him, the parole board must recommend a pardon before the governor can take action under the Texas Constitution.

In a statement shared on Twitter, Abbott stated, "I look forward to approving the Board's pardon recommendation as soon as it hits my desk."

Abbott echoed conservative criticism of José Garza, the Democratic district attorney for Travis County, who represents Democrats. "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," Abbott said.The Texas Republican Party urged the governor to get engaged before to Abbott's declaration.

"Prosecution in this case ought to have been avoided. In a tweet on Friday night, Texas GOP Chair Matt Rinaldi stated that "[Abbott] should grant a pardon."

Conservative Fox News commentator Tucker Carlson discussed Perry's conviction on his show on Friday night. Carlson claimed that he had asked Abbott if he was thinking about pardoning Perry, but the governor turned him down.

In Texas, there is no right to self-defense, thus that is Greg Abbott's stance, Carlson informed his audience.

Under the advice of the parole board, Abbott awarded two pardons in 2022, eight in 2021, and seven in 2020 for lesser charges such theft, furnishing alcohol to a minor, assault by physical contact, vehicle burglary, credit card fraud, and carrying an unlawful weapon.

Foster was killed on July 25 during a protest against police brutality, one of many that were taking place across the nation after George Floyd, a Black man, was killed by a white Minneapolis police officer in May 2020. Perry was found guilty of murder but not of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.

Austin police said that Perry was operating an Uber vehicle when he pulled over and honked at demonstrators as they crossed the roadway. Police claim that he then quickly rammed his car into the gathering.

Foster, a 28-year-old Caucasian veteran of the Air Force who was also openly carrying an AK-47 weapon at the time—which was legal—had been observed doing so.

There are varying accounts as to whether Foster raised the rifle to the driver before Perry, who was also legally armed, shot and killed Foster and left the scene, according to police. Perry then shot and killed Perry and left the scene. 

Foster pointed his gun at him as he reported the incident to the police, and he claimed to have fired in self-defense. Perry is a white dude as well.

According to Perry's argument, the use of deadly force was permitted by the state's "stand your ground" legislation, which permits anyone to use it when they feel threatened.

The shooter's mental condition and his claim of self-defense were called into question by Perry's earlier social media rants about taking revenge on demonstrators.