Jury Selection Begins for Man Pardoned in 2020 Protest Killing

Daniel Perry faces new misdemeanor charge related to the same 2020 incident

Mar. 22, 2026 at 6:08pm

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Jury selection is set to begin on Monday in the misdemeanor deadly conduct case against Daniel Perry, who was pardoned in 2024 after being convicted of murder for the 2020 shooting death of a protester in Austin. The new misdemeanor charge is also related to Perry's actions on the day of the protest, with prosecutors arguing it involves a separate set of potential victims from the murder case.

Why it matters

The case highlights the ongoing legal and political fallout from the 2020 protests and the divisive issues of self-defense, use of force, and criminal justice reform. Perry's pardon by the governor has been controversial, and this new misdemeanor charge represents an attempt by prosecutors to hold him accountable despite the earlier murder acquittal.

The details

According to the indictment, Perry is accused of putting a group of pedestrians in serious danger by driving into them during the 2020 protest. His attorneys have argued the new charge violates his constitutional protection against double jeopardy, but prosecutors contend it involves a separate set of potential victims from the murder case.

  • Jury selection is set to begin on Monday, March 25, 2026.
  • In 2024, Texas Governor Greg Abbott pardoned Perry after his 2023 murder conviction.

The players

Daniel Perry

A former U.S. Army sergeant who was pardoned in 2024 after being convicted of murder for the 2020 shooting death of a protester in Austin.

Garrett Foster

An Air Force veteran who was killed during a 2020 Black Lives Matter protest in Austin.

Greg Abbott

The Governor of Texas who pardoned Daniel Perry in 2024 after his murder conviction.

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What they’re saying

“The state's pardon and parole board 'conducted an extensive review of U.S. Army Sergeant Daniel Perry's personal history and the facts surrounding the July 2020 incident and recommended a [full pardon].'”

— Greg Abbott, Governor of Texas

What’s next

The judge will decide whether to allow the misdemeanor deadly conduct charge to proceed, given Perry's previous pardon for the related 2020 incident.

The takeaway

This case highlights the ongoing legal and political debates around use of force, self-defense, and criminal justice reform in the aftermath of the 2020 protests. The pardon of Perry by the governor has been highly controversial, and prosecutors are now attempting to hold him accountable through this new misdemeanor charge.