Ex-Marine won’t face charge for putting erratic NYC subway passenger in chokehold who later died
MANHATTAN, NEW YORK: A former Marine, who got into a fatal fight with an NYC subway passenger after he began acting abnormally, won’t be pressed with any charge, police reportedly said. The identity of the former Marine Corps has not been released but the other man who died was revealed to be Jordan Neely.
The New York Daily News reported that the incident happened on Monday, May 1, when Neely, who used to perform as a Michael Jackson impersonator for money, started to behave erratically around 2.30 in the afternoon on an F train moving to the Broadway-Lafayette station in NoHo. The 30-year-old also allegedly screamed and tossed garbage at other passengers when the 24-year-old former Marine Corps confronted him.
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‘I’m not answering any questions’
The confrontation between the two men soon turned violent when the ex-Marine placed Neely in a headlock, as per police. The older man lost consciousness before he was transferred to Lenox Hill Hospital. However, he was declared dead there. Initially, the Marine veteran was called in for questioning by the cops but eventually, he walked free.
The New York Daily News said that the person was called for a quote but he said, “I’m not answering any questions, I appreciate it, but I’m not answering any questions.”
‘His mom died — she got killed too’
Meanwhile, the family of Neely, who reportedly had mental health issues, is said to be devastated because of his death. The 60-year-old father of Neely, Andre Zachery, said, “His mom died — she got killed too. And now him?! She got killed [by] her boyfriend. And now him? By somebody else? I don’t know what to say.”
Besides, Zachery spoke of his late son’s talent as he used to act as the ‘King of Pop’. He added, “He was very good at it. He was great at it. I sat him in front of the TV and showed him the Jackson 5.... He took on the Michael Jackson thing and he really formed it very well.”
One of the neighbors of Zachery told the New York Daily News, “I felt like something was wrong with him. Just his aura, everything. Sometimes he was asleep in the hallway. He wasn’t violent. He was more of a don’t-look-at-me-type of person. Anxiety. I felt like that’s why he did the Michael Jackson thing — he had better confidence. It just became like that’s all he wanted to do. Michael Jackson, Michael Jackson.”
The neighbor added, “Hell, yeah he was good! He used to get sturdy. He had the moves. The moonwalk. He was always happy doing it. When he was getting ready to go to work he would do it. He used to be really good. I think he did it at Times Square.”
‘It was a murder’
Meanwhile, the case has attracted some attention online as a user commented, “It wasn't a brawl, it was a murder.” The second user tweeted, “The progressive left is destroying the city.” “The citizen took things too far. I don’t disagree with the idea of physical intervention given the situation, however, it needs to be within reason. Placing someone in a chokehold for several minutes is unreasonable given the totality of the situation as we know it today,” the third one said.
The citizen took things too far. I don’t disagree with the idea of physical intervention given the situation, however, it needs to be within reason. Placing someone in a chokehold for several minutes is unreasonable given the totality of the situation as we know it today.
— Moe ☕️ (@MauriceCooley) May 2, 2023
“His name was Jordan Neely, a Michael Jackson impersonator that used to perform all over the subway system and various parts of Manhattan. What happened here is a systemic failure. Both for Jordan and the veteran. Heartbreakingly, Jordan lost his life,” the fourth user wrote and the fifth one added, “That guy was a nuisance from what I’ve heard. I’m sorry he lost his life though.”
his name was Jordan Neely, a Michael Jackson impersonator that used to perform all over the subway system and various parts of Manhattan. What happened here is a systemic failure. Both for Jordan and the veteran.
— 💛 (@ladytrashbucket) May 3, 2023
Heartbreakingly, Jordan lost his life.
That guys was a nuisance from what I’ve heard. I’m sorry he lost his life though.
— Kam Lee (@M0NKEYCAN) May 2, 2023
This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.
