Texas Gov. Greg Abbott issued his pardon after the unanimous recommendation by the state’s Board of Pardons and Paroles.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott on Thursday pardoned , an Army sergeant to 25 years in prison for shooting and killing a protester in 2020. The Republican governor issued his pardon after a unanimous recommendation by the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles.
The Board also unanimously voted to recommend a full restoration of Perry’s firearm rights.
“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 in a statement. “I thank the Board for its thorough investigation, and I approve their pardon recommendation.”
Texas law states that the governor can grant a pardon after a recommendation by the state’s Board of Pardons and Paroles, whose members are appointed by the governor.
An investigation into Perry’s case began on April 8th, 2024, at the request of the governor, the parole board said in a statement. The request came one day after of Garrett Foster, 28, who was protesting for racial justice and against police brutality in downtown Austin.
Perry’s attorneys said their client, a U.S. Army sergeant who was stationed at Fort Hood at the time of the shooting and working as a ride-share driver, was part of a “political prosecution” and claimed that he acted in self-defense.
