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[ 0 => '{{Infobox civilian attack', 1 => '| title = Murder of Garrett Foster', 2 => '| location = [[Austin, Texas|Austin]], [[Texas]], U.S.', 3 => '| date = {{start date and age|2020|07|25}}', 4 => '| type = [[Murder]] by [[Gun violence in the United States|shooting]]', 5 => '| victim = Garrett Foster, aged 28', 6 => '| perpetrator = Daniel Perry', 7 => '| verdict = *[[Guilt (law)|Guilty]] of murder', 8 => '*[[Acquittal|Not guilty]] of aggravated assault', 9 => '| convictions = Murder', 10 => '| charges = *[[Murder in Texas law|Murder]]', 11 => '**[[Manslaughter (United States law)|Manslaughter]] ([[lesser included offense]])', 12 => '*[[Aggravated assault]] with a [[deadly weapon]]', 13 => '}}', 14 => '', 15 => 'On July 25, 2020, Garrett Foster, a 28-year old man, was murdered in [[Austin, Texas]] by 30-year old Daniel Perry. Perry had driven into a crowd of protesters during a [[Black Lives Matter]] protest following the May 2020 police [[murder of George Floyd]] in [[Minneapolis|Minneapolis, Minnesota]]. Foster, who had been legally [[Open carry in the United States|open carrying]] an [[AK-47]], had walked up to Perry, who shot and killed him. Perry claimed that he had acted in [[self-defense]], but in April 2023, a jury found Perry [[Guilt (law)|guilty]] of [[Murder in Texas law|murder]]. He was [[Acquittal|acquitted]] of an [[Aggravated Assault|aggravated assault]] charge. He is currently awaiting sentencing, and faces between 5 years to [[Life imprisonment in the United States|life in prison]].', 16 => '', 17 => 'Perry had made numerous posts and direct messages on social media where he had expressed his desire to shoot protesters, which brought into question his claim of self-defense.', 18 => '', 19 => '== Murder ==', 20 => 'Daniel Perry, a then-30-year old [[United States Army]] sergeant, had been working his [[Uber]] shift when he encountered a protest in the street, which was during the midst of protests in the United States at the time in response to police brutality. Perry originally stopped and honked his car horn at the protesters, but later drove his car into the crowd. Garrett Foster, a 28-year old [[United States Air Force]] veteran who was legally open carrying an AK-47, walked up to Perry, presumably to investigate what was going on. After he walked up to Perry's vehicle, Perry shot and killed him. Perry claimed self-defense and claimed that Foster had pointed his weapon at him, but eyewitnesses contradicted this account.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Melhado |first=William |date=2023-04-08 |title=U.S. Army sergeant found guilty of murder in 2020 shooting of Austin protester Garrett Foster |url=https://www.texastribune.org/2023/04/07/daniel-perry-austin-protest-garrett-foster/ |access-date=2023-04-08 |website=The Texas Tribune |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=April 7, 2023 |title=Travis County jury finds Daniel Perry guilty of murder |url=https://www.kvue.com/article/news/crime/daniel-perry-trial-verdict/269-b554d558-6f17-4607-86af-dbcc9d246a83 |access-date=2023-04-08 |website=kvue.com |language=en-US}}</ref>', 21 => '', 22 => '== Legal proceedings ==', 23 => 'In July 2021, nearly a year after the killing, a [[Travis County, Texas|Travis County]] [[grand jury]] indicted Perry on charges on murder and aggravated assault. Perry turned himself in and was shortly released from jail on a $300,000 bond.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Oxner |first=Reese |date=2021-07-01 |title=Army sergeant indicted on murder and aggravated assault charges after fatally shooting Austin protester Garrett Foster in 2020 |url=https://www.texastribune.org/2021/07/01/garrett-foster-indicted-murder-daniel-perry-austin-protester/ |access-date=2023-04-08 |website=The Texas Tribune |language=en}}</ref>', 24 => '', 25 => '=== Trial ===', 26 => 'Perry's trial for the murder of Foster took place at the end of March 2023 to the beginning of April 2023, nearly three years after the incident. The prosecution argued that since Foster had been exercising his right to open carry, there was no justification for Perry shooting him. The prosecution revealed that Perry had made numerous posts and direct messages on social media expressing his desire to shoot Black Lives Matter protesters, writing, "I might have to kill a few people on my way to work, they are rioting outside my apartment complex," and "I might go to Dallas to shoot looters," and had expressed his support for violence against protesters on multiple social media posts.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Marks |first=Andrea |date=2023-04-07 |title=U.S. Army Sgt. Guilty in Murder of BLM Protester |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-news/daniel-perry-guilty-verdict-murder-blm-protester-garrett-foster-1234710647/ |access-date=2023-04-08 |website=Rolling Stone |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Bingamon |first=Brant |last2=Fri. |last3=April 7 |last4=2023 |title=“Might Have to Kill a Few People” |url=https://www.austinchronicle.com/news/2023-04-07/might-have-to-kill-a-few-people/ |access-date=2023-04-08 |website=www.austinchronicle.com |language=en-US}}</ref> He had also stated that someone could shoot protesters and get away with it by claiming self-defense. Perry's defense claimed that Texas's [[stand-your-ground law]] protected him legally and that he had feared for his life, after the defense alleged that Foster had pointed his weapon at Perry. The prosecution contended that there was not evidence that Foster had pointed his weapon, and other eyewitnesses contradicted this account by the defense. The prosecution also focused on the fact that Foster's weapon was recovered with its safety on and no bullets in the chamber.<ref name=":0" />', 27 => '', 28 => 'On April 7, 2023, after a week of deliberations, the jury found Perry guilty of murder, but not guilty of aggravated assault, with friends and family of Foster, and Foster himself, breaking down in tears as the guilty verdict was read. Foster's father stated, "We're happy with the verdict. we're very sorry for [Perry's] family as well. There's no winners in this. Just glad it's over." Perry is currently awaiting sentencing, and faces between 5 years to life in prison.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Donlevy |first=Katherine |date=2023-04-08 |title=Daniel Perry convicted of killing BLM protester Garrett Foster |url=https://nypost.com/2023/04/07/army-sgt-daniel-perry-convicted-of-killing-blm-protester-garrett-foster/ |access-date=2023-04-08 |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-04-07 |title=Daniel Perry found guilty of murder in protester’s death |url=https://www.kxan.com/news/local/austin/daniel-perry-found-guilty-of-murder-in-protesters-death/ |access-date=2023-04-08 |website=KXAN Austin |language=en-US}}</ref>', 29 => '', 30 => '=== Controversy ===', 31 => 'Following Perry's conviction, conservative commentators and politicians began to urge Texas Governor [[Greg Abbott]] to [[pardon]] Perry, supporting Perry's self-defense claim. These calls for a pardon of Perry included Texas U.S. Representative [[Ronny Jackson]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lewis |first=Kaitlin |date=2023-04-08 |title=Texas governor faces Republican pressure over Daniel Perry's conviction |url=https://www.newsweek.com/texas-governor-faces-republican-pressure-over-daniel-perrys-conviction-1793256 |access-date=2023-04-08 |website=Newsweek |language=en}}</ref>', 32 => '', 33 => '{{reflist}}', 34 => '', 35 => '{{DEFAULTSORT:Foster, Garrett}}', 36 => '[[Category:2020 controversies in the United States]]', 37 => '[[Category:2023 controversies in the United States]]', 38 => '[[Category:2020 in Texas]]', 39 => '[[Category:2020–2021 United States racial unrest]]', 40 => '[[Category:Austin, Texas]]', 41 => '[[Category:Deaths by firearm in Texas]]', 42 => '[[Category:Deaths by person in Texas]]', 43 => '[[Category:Incidents of violence against men]]', 44 => '[[Category:July 2020 events in the United States]]', 45 => '[[Category:Travis County, Texas]]', 46 => '[[Category:2020 murders in the United States]]', 47 => '[[Category:Murder in Texas]]', 48 => '[[Category:July 2020 crimes in the United States]]' ]