Fatal Subway Chokehold: Jurors Acquit Ex-Marine, Igniting Outrage
A Manhattan jury acquitted Daniel Penny on all charges related to the death of Jordan Neely, an unarmed Black man who died after being restrained in a lethal chokehold on a New York City subway train.
Penny, a 26-year-old former Marine, faced a manslaughter charge, which could have carried a 15-year sentence. The jury opted to deliberate on the lesser charge of criminally negligent homicide after the prosecution dropped last week the more severe charge.
The verdict, announced Monday, sparked immediate backlash.
“No justice, no peace!”
Jordan’s father, Andre Zachery, was removed from the courtroom for shouting in protest while many echoed his sentiment outside the courtroom, chanting "No justice, no peace."
Outside court, Penny appeared to smile while his lawyers embraced near the end of the expectedly contentious trial.
Penny’s lawyers had argued he acted defensively, claiming Neely was threatening passengers who were on a crowded subway train. The incident, captured on video, sparked widespread debate about public safety, mental health, and the role of race in the city’s justice system.
Neely, a 30-year-old with a history of mental health struggles, had a checkered past, including multiple encounters with the law.
A video of the incident showed Penny placing Neely in a chokehold for six minutes, even after he appeared unresponsive.
“He’s dying,” someone could be heard shouting in a chilling recording from the scene.
Neely’s family’s attorney Donte Mills spoke emotionally after the verdict.
“Everyone matters. Even if you’re homeless, have mental health issues, have an addiction – you matter,” Mills stated, adding "This verdict says otherwise. Daniel Penny got away with murder.”
The case landed squarely in the middle of larger national conversation about the state of New York City’s public transit system safety.
His trial was watched closely and cases bleed into heated debates about public safety and societal responsibility towards
Jordan Neely’s death sparked several days of protests across New York, igniting darkly necessary discussions about race and economic disparity.
The tragic incident continues to fuel deep polarization over the line between safety and accountability
Neely’s death represented a flashpoint for many, bringing to light the city’s ongoing struggles with homelessness and the broader debate about the city’s commitment to addressing societal issues tied to poverty and what
Do Not repeat the events. The trial itself centered on jury’s
touted the city proactivelyにかけてa
both hinged on the nuanced question of when a citizen is allowed to take a legal life. The jury ultimately sided with Penny’s argument, clinging harder than ever to
Penny’s legal defense maintained that Penny only acted to protect others, emphasizing the city’s increased concerns surrounding safeguarding
A snippet of one, showing Penny securing Neely in
After a week of deliberation, the jury found lack lacking
“We couldn’t be more pleased,” Penny’s statement following his acquittal, sparking renewed cited em New York City’s subway.
The conviction carried a maximum sentence
A spokesperson for the family expressed they would appeal the verdict.
