Texas Governor Grants Pardon to Daniel Perry in Self-Defense Case from 2020 Black Lives Matter Protest

Austin, Texas United States of America
Perry's lawyers argued he acted in self-defense against Foster who was carrying an AK-47-style rifle
Perry was convicted of killing Garrett Foster during a Black Lives Matter protest in Austin in the summer of 2020
Texas Governor Greg Abbott granted a pardon to Daniel S. Perry on May 16, 2024
The state Board of Pardons and Paroles recommended a pardon following investigation into the case
Under Texas law, a recommendation from the board is necessary before the governor can grant a pardon
Texas Governor Grants Pardon to Daniel Perry in Self-Defense Case from 2020 Black Lives Matter Protest

Texas Governor Greg Abbott pardoned Daniel S. Perry on May 16, 2024, who was convicted of killing Garrett Foster during a Black Lives Matter protest in Austin in the summer of 2020. Perry's lawyers argued that he acted in self-defense against Foster who was carrying an AK-47-style rifle. The decision came after the state's Board of Pardons and Paroles recommended a pardon, following a thorough investigation into the case. Under Texas law, a recommendation from the board is necessary before the governor can grant a pardon.



Confidence

100%

No Doubts Found At Time Of Publication

Sources

92%

  • Unique Points
    • Gov. Greg Abbott pardoned Daniel Perry, a veteran who killed a protester in 2020 after he was convicted by a Travis County jury.
    • Perry encountered protesters while driving for Uber and honked at them; he then drove his car into the crowd. Foster was openly carrying an AK-47 rifle at the time.
  • Accuracy
    • Perry encountered protesters while driving for Uber and honked at them; he then drove his car into the crowd.
    • Foster was openly carrying an AK-47 rifle at the time.
    • Perry faced between five and 99 years in prison for fatally shooting 28-year-old Air Force veteran Garrett Foster at an Austin, Texas, racial justice rally two months after the murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis.
    • Prosecutors said Perry initiated the fatal encounter when he ran a red light and drove his vehicle into a crowd gathered at the protest.
    • Foster approached Perry’s car and motioned for him to lower his window at which point Perry fatally shot him with a handgun.
  • Deception (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Fallacies (85%)
    The author commits several logical fallacies in this article. Firstly, there is a dichotomous depiction presented by the author when discussing the 'Stand Your Ground' law. The author states that it 'cannot be nullified by a jury or a progressive District Attorney', implying that either the law stands as absolute or those mentioned are undermining it, which is an oversimplification of a complex legal system. Secondly, there is an appeal to authority when the author quotes Governor Greg Abbott's statement on Texas' 'Stand Your Ground' laws without critically evaluating its validity. Lastly, inflammatory rhetoric can be seen in the mention of influential conservative voices like Tucker Carlson and Texas GOP Chair Matt Rinaldi who pressured Abbott to pardon Perry. They are presented as significant actors in the decision-making process without a balanced perspective.
    • . . .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.”
    • The author quoting Governor Abbott's statement: “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.”
    • The mention of influential conservative voices: . . .both pressured Abbott to pardon Perry saying he acted in self-defense in the face of dangerous protests.
  • Bias (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication

77%

  • Unique Points
    • Daniel Perry had a history of making racist comments in messages and social media posts.
    • Perry faced between five and 99 years in prison for fatally shooting Garrett Foster at an Austin, Texas, racial justice rally two months after the murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis.
  • Accuracy
    • Texas Gov. Greg Abbott pardoned Daniel Perry, who was convicted of murdering a protester at a Black Lives Matter rally in 2020 and was sentenced to 25 years in prison.
    • ,
  • Deception (30%)
    The article contains selective reporting as it only reports details that support the author's position of Perry being pardoned. The author does not mention any counterarguments or opposing viewpoints. Additionally, there is emotional manipulation through the inclusion of quotes from Whitney Mitchell expressing her grief and anger over Perry's pardon.
    • Foster was openly carrying an assault-style rifle – legal in Texas – and approached Perry’s car and motioned for him to lower his window, at which point Perry fatally shot him with a handgun, prosecutors said.
    • For the defense, Greg Hupp, a forensic psychologist who examined Perry twice in 2023, testified during his sentencing he diagnosed him with complex post-traumatic stress disorder and autism spectrum disorder.
    • His decision comes after the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles voted unanimously on Thursday to recommend a full pardon and the restoration of Perry’s firearm rights.
  • Fallacies (80%)
    The authors make an appeal to authority by stating that Texas has one of the strongest 'Stand Your Ground' laws and that it cannot be nullified by a jury or a progressive District Attorney. They also quote Abbott stating that he wants to pardon Perry and asked for an expedited review of the case before a sentence was handed down.
    • 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.
    • 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.
  • Bias (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication

95%

  • Unique Points
    • Governor Greg Abbott pardoned Daniel Perry on Thursday
    • Daniel Perry is a former Army sergeant convicted in the fatal shooting of a Black Lives Matter protester
  • Accuracy
    • Perry was sentenced to 25 years in prison for shooting and killing U.S. Air Force veteran Garrett Foster during a 2020 demonstration protesting police brutality against people of color.
    • Texas has strong ‘Stand Your Ground’ laws that cannot be overruled by juries or District Attorneys
  • Deception (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Fallacies (95%)
    The author makes an appeal to authority by quoting Governor Abbott's statement about Texas having one of the strongest 'Stand Your Ground' laws. No formal or informal fallacies were found beyond this.
    • “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.”
  • Bias (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication

96%

  • Unique Points
    • Texas Governor Greg Abbott pardoned Daniel S. Perry on May 16, 2024
    • Daniel S. Perry was convicted of killing Garrett Foster during a Black Lives Matter protest in Austin in the summer of 2020
    • Perry's lawyers argued that he acted in self-defense against Foster who was carrying an AK-47-style rifle
  • Accuracy
    • Texas Governor Greg Abbott pardoned Daniel Perry on Thursday, May 16, 2024
    • Abbott cited Texas’ strong ‘stand your ground’ law as reason for granting the pardon
  • Deception (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Fallacies (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Bias (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication