A US Army sergeant has been sentenced to 25 years in prison for shooting to death a 28-year-old man demonstrating against racism. Garrett Foster was killed during a 2020 Black Lives Matter rally in Austin, Texas following the police killing of black George Floyd.
Convicted soldier Daniel Perry (35) risked between 5 and 99 years in prison for shooting the also white Foster, reports news channel CNN. Perry’s lawyers had called for a prison sentence of up to ten years, citing the lack of a criminal history, the psychological problems and praise from several military colleagues. Given Perry’s mental health, prosecutors called him a “loaded gun, ready to fire.”
Foster, a veteran, carried an assault rifle, which is legal in Texas, during the protest. Before the fatal encounter, Perry drove his car into a crowd at the protest. Foster went to Perry’s car and motioned for him to lower the window, whereupon Perry shot him with a pistol, prosecutors said. Perry’s lawyers said it was self-defense.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott has already made it clear that he wants to pardon Perry.
Texas governor seeks pardon for man who killed Black Lives Matter protester
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