Daniel Penny disputes claim of 15-minute chokehold on homeless man Jordan Neely, denies trying to kill him on NYC subway
Former Marine Daniel Penny has denied that he was trying to kill Jordan Neely, a homeless man who he is charged with killing on the subway last month. Penny claims that he jumped into action after Neely was threatening passengers and said that he was not attempting to choke him to death. Several videos released by Penny’s lawyers on Sunday show the 24-year-old East Village resident recounting the incident. Neely died from “compression of the neck,” according to the medical examiner’s office. The fatal encounter was caught on video and went viral on social media. Penny has been indicted on charges of manslaughter and is due back in court on July 17.
FAQs
What happened between Daniel Penny and Jordan Neely?
On May 1, 2021, Penny, a former marine, restrained Neely in a chokehold on an F train after he was threatening passengers. Neely died from “compression of the neck,” according to the medical examiner’s office.
What was Penny’s motive for restraining Neely?
Penny claims that he was not attempting to kill Neely but rather was attempting to restrain him from carrying out his threats. Penny noted that he was scared for himself and the other passengers.
What happened to Penny after the incident?
Penny was initially taken into custody and released but was later indicted on charges of manslaughter.
What did Penny say about the allegations that the incident was racially motivated?
Penny emphasized that the notion the incident was fueled by race is “ridiculous.” “I didn’t see a black man threatening passengers, I saw a man threatening passengers, a lot of whom were people of color,” he said.
What was Neely’s history?
Neely had a history of mental illness but slipped through the cracks of the mental health system. He was known as a street performer impersonating Michael Jackson.
Daniel Penny denies allegations of a 15-minute chokehold on Jordan Neely, homeless man on NYC subway and refutes the accusation of attempted murder.
Daniel Penny, a former Marine who is accused of killing homeless man Jordan Neely on a New York City subway train last month, has denied that he was trying to strangle Neely to death. Instead, Penny claims he was trying to restrain the man, who had been threatening passengers on the train. Penny is facing manslaughter charges, after video footage emerged of him holding Neely in what appeared to be a fatal chokehold. Neely died from compression of the neck, according to the medical examiner’s office. However, Penny’s lawyers have released a series of videos in which Penny insists he did not hold Neely by his throat for 15 minutes and had no intention of taking his life. Penny, who is 6’2”, says he felt intimidated by Neely, who was larger than him, and that he couldn’t sit by and watch Neely carry out his threats. In the video, he denies that race had anything to do with the incident and says he was trying to protect people of all colors who were scared. Neely had a history of mental illness and was known in the city for impersonating Michael Jackson.