The Republican said Sgt. Daniel Perry, 35, was acting in his own defense when he repeatedly fired his handgun on 28-year-old Garrett Foster as he marched in the July 25, 2020 Austin demonstration.

"Texas has one of the strongest 'Stand Your Ground' laws of self-defense that cannot be nullified by a jury or a progressive District Attorney," Abbott said in a statement.

The governor blamed the Friday conviction on the county's George Soros-backed Democrat District Attorney José Garza and promised to reign in "rogue District Attorneys."

In a Twitter reply, Abbot said that he "strongly supports" a supporting theory that Garza "intentionally mislead the Grand Jury" throughout the trial.

Abbott said he is requesting that the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles "expedite" a review of Perry's case and recommend a pardon, a power the state constitution limits him from making.

"I look forward to approving the Board's pardon recommendation as soon as it hits my desk," he said.