A US Army sergeant, Daniel Perry, was sentenced to 25 years in prison for fatally shooting an armed man, Garrett Foster, during a Black Lives Matter protest in Texas. Perry’s history of racist and provocative texts and social media posts exposed a threat of violence likely to resurface, according to prosecutors. Prosecutors submitted dozens of texts and social media posts Perry wrote, shared, or liked, including some shockingly racist images, which had been excluded from his trial but were allowed into the sentencing phase.
Perry claimed he acted in self-defense, but prosecutors argued that he was a “loaded gun” ready to go off at any perceived threat and that he would likely do it again. Perry’s lawyers asked the judge to consider his 10-year military career and hand down a sentence of no more than 10 years. Perry, who is white, fatally shot Foster, a 28-year-old Air Force veteran, who was legally carrying an AK-47 rifle as he participated in the demonstration against police killings and racial injustice.
Daniel Perry
Foster’s widow, Whitney Mitchell, gave a witness impact statement, describing Foster as the primary caregiver for her, who is quadriplegic. Perry’s social media posts showed a history of racism, including a statement he wrote on Facebook a month before the shooting, saying, “It is official I am a racist because I do not agree with people acting like animals at the zoo.” His racist views and statements sparked outrage from prominent conservatives, including Texas Republican Governor Greg Abbott, who has said he will sign a pardon once a recommendation from the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles arrives on his desk.
Perry’s conviction and sentence have sparked a debate about systemic racism and the frequency of police killings and violence against people of color. Perry’s sentencing comes as the Black Lives Matter movement continues to emphasize the need for accountability and justice for victims of police violence. As Perry awaits separation from the military, his sentence serves as a reminder that violence and racism will not be tolerated or ignored in the United States.
