Marine Veteran Faces Charges in Subway Chokehold Case

Marine Veteran Daniel Penny Surrenders in NYC Subway Chokehold Death Case

Marine veteran Daniel Penny turned himself in to face a manslaughter charge for the fatal choking of a homeless man, Jordan Neely, on the New York City subway. Penny and his attorney arrived at the 5th Precinct in Lower Manhattan to face the highly controversial charges. Prosecutors are expected to request significant bail as Penny is transported to Manhattan Criminal Court for arraignment on one count of second-degree manslaughter.

Daniel Penny was remembered by many through his performances as a Michael Jackson impersonator. He would captivate onlookers near train stations and occasionally even inside train carriages, dancing to the tunes of Michael Jackson while fully embodying the essence of the pop superstar. However, it has been noted that these performances became a thing of the past for Penny in the years leading up to his death. Reportedly, he had not entertained audiences with his impersonation skills for approximately a decade.

Confrontation Leading to Chokehold Incident on NYC Subway

On May 1, a disturbing incident occurred on a northbound F train involving Jordan Neely, who was known to suffer from mental illness. Neely’s behavior escalated to aggression as he began screaming and verbally threatening fellow passengers. According to reports, he even declared, “I don’t care if I go back to jail.” Freelance journalist Alberto Vazquez captured parts of the incident on video, detailing Neely’s erratic demeanor, including expressing hunger, exhaustion, and an apparent indifference towards potential consequences. However, the complete video footage has not been made available to the public, leaving some aspects of the situation unverifiable.

Claims emerged suggesting that Daniel Penny choked Neely for an extended duration of approximately 15 minutes, but without concrete video evidence, it remains challenging to confirm the exact timeline. Nevertheless, Penny’s intervention involved placing Neely in a chokehold, resulting in his gradual loss of consciousness. The medical examiner’s investigation concluded that the cause of Neely’s death was compression of the neck, leading to the ruling of homicide.

Defense Claims Self-Defense in Subway Chokehold Case

Amidst the subway altercation, Daniel Penny’s attorney maintained that his actions were in self-defense, aimed at safeguarding himself and fellow New Yorkers. However, Mayor Eric Adams emphasized that Jordan Neely’s death was unwarranted, shedding light on concerns regarding public safety in the city’s subway system. The incident, which was captured on video, ignited widespread protests and sparked discussions about the dire need for enhanced subway safety measures.

The incident has brought attention to the shortcomings of the mental health system, underscoring the challenging reality of encounters with homeless and mentally unwell individuals. It has been emphasized that navigating such situations necessitates a delicate balance between indifference and attempts at rationalization, particularly when these individuals pose threats to other riders. However, it is widely acknowledged that many people are ill-equipped to handle such encounters and should not be burdened with the expectation of doing so.

History of Violent Attacks by Jordan Neely

Prior to the fatal confrontation, Jordan Neely had a troubling history of violent attacks, including assaulting two individuals over the age of 60. Court records further revealed an incident in which he punched a woman on a subway platform. Neely’s arrest record featured charges of harassment, exposing himself to a woman, and multiple assaults on various subway platforms. Due to his violent behavior, outreach workers had taken notice of Neely, and he was included in the city’s “Top 50” list of individuals requiring assistance, as recognized by the Department of Homeless Services.

Interestingly, on Reddit approximately nine years ago, a post emerged warning others in the r/NYC community to steer clear of someone referred to as the “Michael Jackson impersonator.” The post described the individual as constantly angry, prone to violence, and threatening. Many Reddit users chimed in to express agreement with these observations.

Alexander J. Williams III