A Texas Army sergeant has been jailed for 25 years for killing a Black Lives Matter protester who pointed a rifle at his car during George Floyd protests, Your Content has learned.
Daniel Perry, 36, was handed the sentence by an Austin court Wednesday, weeks after he was convicted of the July 2020 murder of Garrett Foster.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott has said he intends to pardon Perry, who he insists acted in self-defense. The state constitution limits Abbott to a pardon only on the recommendation by the state Board of Pardons and Paroles.
On Tuesday, prosecutors submitted into evidence dozens of texts and social media posts Perry wrote, shared or liked, including some racist images.
They had been excluded from Perry’s trial, but were publicly released after his conviction and allowed into the sentencing phase by District Judge Clifford Brown.
Prosecutor Guillermo Gonzalez had urged Brown to issue a sentence of at least 25 years. The sentencing range for the murder conviction is five years to life in prison.
‘This man is a loaded gun, ready to go off at any perceived threat,’ Gonzalez said. ‘He´s going to do it again.’
Perry said he acted in self-defense. His lawyers asked the judge to consider his more than a decadelong military career and hand down a sentence of no more than 10 years,‘according to ABC NEWS.
—
Your Content for the latest updates. Have a story or news tip? Contact our 24/7 newsroom at 833.336.8013 or e-mail our tip line: [email protected].