Prosecutors have announced that the Marine veteran who was involved in the chokehold death of Jordan Neely on a New York City Subway car earlier this month could face criminal charges as soon as Friday.
According to Manhattan prosecutors, the former Marine Daniel Penny will be charged with Neely’s death on Friday. USA Today reported Penny would be arrested and charged with second-degree murder, which could result in a prison term of up to 15 years.
In a press release, the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office stated, “We are unable to provide additional information until after he is arraigned at Manhattan Criminal Court tomorrow, which we anticipate will happen.”
WNBC also reports that Penny could be charged as early as this Friday, citing sources who are familiar with the situation.
Penny, 24, is expected to surrender herself to the authorities by Friday.
Neely allegedly acted erratically and harassed other subway riders on May 1. Penny is seen in the video choking Neely while he was on the F train. Neely died after losing consciousness.
The New York City Office of Chief Medical Examiner has ruled Neely’s death as a homicide.
Neely was allegedly homeless and suffering from mental illness. According to reports, the 30-year-old Michael Jackson imitation was arrested 42 times from 2013 to 2021. This included four alleged assaults. Neely was still wanted for felony assault, in relation to an attack in 2021 on a woman aged 67.
In a press release, attorneys for Penny stated that Daniel never intended to hurt Mr. Neely. He could not have predicted his untimely demise.
Attorneys noted that Neely was restrained by two other subway passengers and that they acted in self-defense.
GiveSendGo launched a fundraising campaign earlier this week in order to pay for Neely’s “legal costs incurred by any criminal charges that are filed, any future civil suits that may arise as well as his defense expenses.”
This week, a video was released showing Penny putting Neely into a “recovery posture.”
Democrats claimed that Neely had been “lynched” or “murdered.”
Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass.) proclaimed: “Black men should be allowed to age — and not lynched in a Subway for having a mental crisis.” Jordan deserved more. “Accountability now”
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, (D-N.Y.), claimed that “Jordan Neely had been murdered.”
New York City Mayor Eric Adams said: “One of us is dead. A black man, like me. Jordan is the name that I gave to my son. A New Yorker who suffered from trauma, mental illness, and tragedy. The last words of a man were a cry for assistance. Jordan Neely.”
