Jury Acquits Daniel Perry of Deadly Conduct Charge
The verdict follows a four-day trial regarding the defendant's 2020 actions on Congress Avenue.
Updated on Oct. 22, 2026 in Criminal Justice
A Travis County jury has acquitted Daniel Perry of a misdemeanor deadly conduct charge. The verdict follows a four-day trial concerning the driving of a vehicle into a crowd of demonstrators on Congress Avenue.
Why it matters
The trial centered on the legal standards for deadly conduct during public demonstrations, a recurring point of tension in Austin's recent history. The outcome closes this specific misdemeanor case following the 2020 incident on Congress Avenue.
A six-person jury deliberated for over two hours to reach an acquittal after a four-day trial. The charge of deadly conduct carried a maximum potential penalty of one year in prison.
The players
Daniel Perry
The defendant who stood trial on a misdemeanor deadly conduct charge.
Garrett Foster
The individual fatally shot by Daniel Perry in 2020.
Travis County
The local jurisdiction where the jury trial and legal proceedings took place.
The details
Prosecutors argued that Perry intended to harm protesters by driving his vehicle into a crowd. Defense attorneys contended the actions did not meet the legal threshold for deadly conduct. Attorneys were prohibited by the court from mentioning a previous murder conviction involving Perry during these proceedings.
Timeline
July 2020: Daniel Perry fatally shot Garrett Foster.
October 2026: The jury trial concluded with a not guilty verdict.
The Texas Context
This verdict marks a conclusion to a specific legal proceeding stemming from the 2020 protests on Congress Avenue. It follows years of intense public and legal focus on the events that took place during that summer.
The acquittal brings an end to this specific misdemeanor trial in the Travis County courts. Residents can monitor public court records for any remaining administrative updates regarding the case.
The takeaway
The jury has reached a final verdict in this misdemeanor case, ending the four-day trial. Those interested in local legal trends can monitor the Travis County court dockets for future public proceedings.
Further reading
You can find more coverage of ongoing legal proceedings in our Criminal Justice section.
