Daniel Penny, the Marine veteran accused of killing 30-year-old Jordan Neely with a chokehold on a New York City subway car in May, has been indicted by a grand jury, according to Neely’s family attorney. The charges against Penny were upgraded from second-degree manslaughter, and he was released on bail pending trial. Penny’s defense team has expressed their intention to vigorously defend him.
In video statements released by Penny’s attorneys, he claims that Neely was exhibiting erratic behavior and making threats to kill fellow passengers, which prompted Penny to intervene and subdue him. The defense also highlighted Neely’s documented history of violent and unstable conduct, seemingly stemming from untreated mental illness. Penny insists that he never intended to harm Neely and could not have predicted his tragic death.
Jordan Neely, a homeless individual who performed as a Michael Jackson impersonator, had been grappling with mental health issues since losing his mother as a teenager. Reverend Al Sharpton, speaking at Neely’s funeral service, emphasized the need to address mental illness rather than criminalizing those affected. Neely’s family, in a statement following the indictment, expressed their belief that justice is being served, asserting that nobody is exempt from accountability, regardless of their financial means, affiliations, or the narratives they construct.
The Manhattan District Attorney’s Office refrained from commenting on the indictment. The case is set to proceed to trial, where Penny’s defense team intends to mount a vigorous defense to prove his innocence in the face of the charges brought against him. The indictment and subsequent trial serve as crucial milestones in the pursuit of justice for Jordan Neely and bring attention to the broader issues surrounding mental health and the criminal justice system.
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