Greg Abbott works on pardon for sergeant convicted of murdering Black Lives Matter supporter

This Saturday, Texas Governor Greg Abbott announced that he wants to pardon an Army sergeant who was recently convicted of shooting a Black Lives Matter protester in 2020.

Through his official Twitter account, the Republican governor assured that he is already working on Daniel Perry's pardon and that he hopes to achieve it as soon as possible.

"I am working as swiftly as Texas law allows regarding the pardon of Sgt. Perry. I have made that request and instructed the board to expedite its review," he reported.

The sergeant shot and killed a Black Lives Matter protester during a protest held against the police nearly three years ago.

On the night of the shooting, July 25, 2020, Perry was working for Uber with the intention of generating extra income and encountered a group of protesters who were blocking the streets.

Among the protesters was 28-year-old Garrett Foster, who was carrying an AK-47 and pointed the weapon at the sergeant, prompting Perry to open fire. The Austin Police Department concluded at the time that the sergeant acted in self-defense.

"When Garrett Foster pointed his AK-47 at Daniel Perry, Daniel had two tenths of a second to defend himself. He chose to live. It may be legal in Texas to carry an assault rifle in downtown Austin. It doesn’t make it a good idea. If you point a firearm at someone, you’re responsible for everything that happens next," Doug O'Connell, Perry's attorney explained.

Sgt. Daniel Perry was facing one count of murder and one count of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, however the jury ruled that Perry was not guilty of the second count.