The casket of Jordan Neely is carried into Mount Neboh Baptist Church in Harlem May 19, 2023 before the funeral for the 30-year old who was killed in a New York City subway car on May 1st. Neely, who suffered from mental illness, was choked to death by Daniel Penny, who has been charged with second-degree manslaughter. © Seth Harrison/USA Today Network / USA TODAY NETWORK
(New York, NY) – The marine veteran charged in the chokehold death of Jordan Neely will have his first day in court tomorrow. Daniel Penny is facing trial for manslaughter after putting Neely in a deadly chokehold on a Manhattan subway in May 2023. Penny, a former Marine, says he acted to protect others when Neely, who was mentally ill, began shouting and behaving erratically. Witnesses say Penny, with help from others, restrained Neely until he lost consciousness.
Neely’s death sparked protests and divided opinions in New York. Some view Penny as a vigilante who killed an innocent man, while others believe he was acting to keep people safe. If convicted, Penny could face up to 15 years in prison. His lawyers argue he didn’t mean to kill Neely but was trying to calm the situation.
