Daniel Perry, a former US Army sergeant who was convicted of murdering a protester at a Black Lives Matter rally in 2020, was released from prison Thursday after he was pardoned by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott.

Abbott’s decision comes after the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles voted unanimously Thursday to recommend a full pardon and the restoration of firearm rights for Perry, who was sentenced last year to 25 years in prison. Shortly after he was pardoned, Perry was released from Texas Department of Criminal Justice custody, a spokesperson for the agency told CNN.

Abbott asked the board to conduct an investigation in April 2023, and in a statement on Thursday, the board said its “investigative efforts encompassed a meticulous review of pertinent documents, from police reports to court records, witness statements, and interviews with individuals linked to the case.”

  • breadsmasher@lemmy.world
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    6 months ago

    Abbott’s decision comes after the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles voted unanimously Thursday to recommend a full pardon and the restoration of firearm rights for Perry, who was sentenced last year to 25 years in prison.

    Man gets convicted of murder.

    Governor says “nah its cool, its not a crime suddenly” and gives him his guns back

    Odds on when this guy murders someone else?

    • themeatbridge@lemmy.world
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      6 months ago

      I’m worried about that, but also I’m worried about the next bigot attacking the next protest because the governor just declared open season on minorities.

    • Flying Squid@lemmy.world
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      6 months ago

      Odds on when this guy murders someone else?

      He should probably do it quickly while Abbott is still in office so he can be pardoned again.

    • gAlienLifeform@lemmy.world
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      6 months ago

      Odds on when this guy murders someone else?

      Don’t know when, but I can already see one of the quotes that will run in that future news story,

      During Perry’s sentencing hearing last May, the prosecution asked that he be sentenced to at least 25 years in prison. They highlighted a stream of racist and inflammatory social media posts Perry wrote prior to the shooting and the defense’s own analysis of his mental disorders and mindset.

      “This man is a loaded gun ready to go off on any perceived threat that he thinks he has to address in his black and white world and his us versus them mentality,” a prosecutor said.

      And he’s being released just in time for Pride Month, during an election year, and while Israel/Palestine protests are ongoing. It’ll be amazing if he doesn’t hurt someone else.

  • BigPotato@lemmy.world
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    6 months ago

    If you have a society where everyone is allowed a gun, you as a gun owner cannot feel threatened by someone else holding a firearm. As an Army Sergeant, the fact that he can’t handle seeing someone else’s weapon without getting scared probably means his file contains more than a few waivers.

  • PugJesus@kbin.social
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    6 months ago

    Abbott’s decision comes after the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles voted unanimously Thursday to recommend a full pardon and the restoration of firearm rights for Perry

    Can we discuss how FUCKED the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles is too?

    • Billiam@lemmy.world
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      6 months ago

      You mean the board where all the members were appointed by Abbott, and who recommended parole because Abbott pushed them?

      Nope, just another day in Texass.

  • Makeitstop@lemmy.world
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    6 months ago

    They argued his actions were justified as self-defense. Perry told police during an interview that he believed Foster was going to aim the firearm at him, according to CNN affiliate KEYE.

    Fucking open and shut case right there. If he was afraid that someone was going to aim a gun at him, it means that the person didn’t aim a gun at him.

    • d00phy@lemmy.world
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      6 months ago

      To sanitize it and remove the negative connotations. It’s something that happened instead of something this guy did.

      Same reasons reporters bend over backwards calling most politicians everything but liars.

  • Todd Bonzalez@lemm.ee
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    6 months ago

    A reminder that acceptance of a pardon legally implies confession of guilt. This man is still a murderer, and society should never let him forget it.