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Jordan Neely died on May 1, 2023, after behaving erratically on the NYC subway.
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A former Marine is accused of killing Neely.
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The defendant claimed he acted in self-defense.
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The ex-Marine is set to stand trial next fall.
(NewsReady.com) – New York Governor Kathy Hochul (D) deployed the National Guard to patrol the New York City subway system in early March. The decision came after a number of violent incidents, including people being shoved onto the tracks and conductors being attacked.
In 2023, there was another violent incident that made national headlines. A 24-year-old former Marine choked a homeless man to death. A trial date has now been set for the case.
The Crime
On May 1, 2023, Jordan Neely was on the F train traveling northbound in Manhattan. The 30-year-old was a regular on the subway system. He used to impersonate Michael Jackson by dressing up like the famed singer and dancing like him. According to his friends, he used to moonwalk in front of other commuters while wearing an outfit that looked like it was straight out of the “Thriller” video.
While Neely was an excellent performer, he was also mentally ill. The New York Times reported city workers had been trying to get him help for years.
On the day he died, Neely was on the subway ranting. Reports indicate he was shouting at other passengers and behaving erratically. He didn’t physically touch anyone, but he reportedly yelled that he didn’t care if he went to jail, told people he was ready today, and said he was hungry.
Former Marine Daniel J. Penny, then-24, was also on the train that day. After leaving the Marines in 2021, he went to college but dropped out and backpacked through Central America. When he returned to the States, he was looking for work as a bartender in Manhattan.
Penny saw Neely screaming at the passengers, and video shows he put the homeless man in a chokehold. When the train stopped and police arrived, Neely was no longer conscious. He died at the hospital.
The Trial
On March 20, New York Judge Maxwell Wiley announced Penny would stand trial on October 8. A grand jury previously indicted the former Marine on charges of criminally negligent homicide and second-degree manslaughter. Prosecutors have alleged the chokehold lasted for about six minutes. During that time, the victim “stopped purposeful movement.”
Penny has pleaded not guilty to the charges. The defendant’s attorneys previously stated Neely was “aggressively threatening” their client and the others on the train. The legal team said Penny “with the help of others, acted to protect themselves, until help arrived.”
Copyright 2024, NewsReady.com
