Grand jury hears evidence against ex-Marine Daniel Penny in subway chokehold death of Jordan Neely
Former Marine Daniel Penny is facing a second-degree manslaughter charge for fatally choking Jordan Neely on a Manhattan subway train last month. According to law enforcement sources, a grand jury has been impaneled by the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office to hear evidence against Penny. The grand jury could hand up additional charges against him, with the manslaughter charge alone carrying a sentence of up to 15 years in prison. Penny, who surrendered to the police on May 12 after more than ten days, is currently out on $100,000 bail and has claimed that he acted in self-defense. CCTV footage shows Penny in a lethal chokehold position on Neely, who was a 30-year-old disturbed homeless man. Neely reportedly began acting erratically and harassing other passengers before being restrained by Penny. A grand jury has now started hearing evidence in the case against Penny.
FAQs:
Who was Jordan Neely?
Jordan Neely, a 30-year-old homeless man, was strangled aboard a northbound F train just before 2:30 p.m. on May 1, according to the police. He reportedly started acting erratically on the train and harassing other passengers before being restrained and ultimately choked by a straphanger, identified as Daniel Penny. Neely had a long history of psychosis and fell through the cracks of the city’s mental health system.
Why is there fallout over Neely’s death?
The city medical examiner ruled Neely’s death a homicide, citing “compression of the neck (chokehold).” Neely’s aunt blamed the city’s mental health system for failing him. Neely had suffered from schizophrenia and PTSD, as well as depression, and spiraled into a “complete mess” following his mother’s murder in 2007.
Who is Daniel Penny?
Daniel Penny, 24, is a former Marine who served as an infantry squad leader and an instructor in water survival while in the Marines Corps from 2017 to 2021, according to his online resume. He graduated from high school in West Islip, NY. Penny surrendered to authorities more than ten days after he placed Neely in a fatal chokehold on an F train and claimed that he acted in self-defense.
Evidence presented to grand jury against former Marine Daniel Penny for Jordan Neely’s subway chokehold death.
A Manhattan grand jury has commenced hearing evidence against Daniel Penny, the former Marine charged with manslaughter for choking Jordan Neely to death on a subway last month. According to reports on Thursday, the grand jury was impaneled by the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office as prosecutors attempt to obtain an indictment on the second-degree manslaughter charge against Penny. Law enforcement sources have revealed that a grand jury could hand down additional charges as the manslaughter rap carries a sentence of up to 15 years in prison. Penny surrendered to the police on May 12 following the May 1 lethal chokehold on an F train in lower Manhattan. Penny’s lawyers have said that he feared for his safety during the encounter and “stepped in to protect himself and his fellow New Yorkers.” Neely, a former street performer, faced long-standing mental health issues and the city’s poor mental health system failed him, resulting in his death.