Daniel Perry was found guilty of murder after killing an armed demonstrator, 28-year-old Air Force veteran Garrett Foster, during the nationwide anti-racist rallies that swept the United States and the world in 2020.
Since his conviction in 2023, he has been detained in a state jail serving a 25-year term.
That is, until Texas Governor Greg Abbott granted the former soldier a full pardon on Thursday.
Mr Abbott announced the pardon just minutes after the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles issued a unanimous recommendation that Perry be pardoned and restored to his weapons privileges.
The Republican governor had earlier directed the board, which he selects, to consider Perry’s case and stated that he would sign a pardon if approved.
