Jordan Neely death: Ex-Marine accused of fatally choking NYC homeless man identified as sergeant Daniel Penny
MANHATTAN, NEW YORK CITY: An ex-Marine who put NYC homeless man Jordan Neely in a fatal chokehold on a subway has been officially identified as Daniel J Penny. His identity was confirmed by a spokesman for the Marine Corps.
Penny left the service in June 2021 after he served for four years as a sergeant in the 1st Battalion, 2nd Marines, and 2nd Marine Division in North Carolina's Camp Lejeune. He was a decorated sergeant who received seven medals. Between December 2017 and July 2019, he was deployed in the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit situated across the Mediterranean, reported Daily Mail.
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Homeless man shot dead after he asked suspect for pizza slice
Neely's death ruled a 'homicide'
Penny has not yet responded to the death of Neely which has now been ruled a "homicide." The 30-year-old homeless man who was a Michael Jackson impersonator began yelling and throwing garbage on the F train in which Penny rode. The Marine veteran tried to subdue him after putting him in a chokehold as the train approached Broadway-Lafayette station.
Penny allegedly put him in a chokehold for nearly 15 minutes, according to some of those onboard. The footage showed him holding the homeless man on the ground of the station by the neck. The victim was then shifted to a hospital where he was declared dead.
NYPD questioned the former sergeant and released him on Monday. The NYC Medical Examiner's Office determined the death as a homicide by the manner of pressure visible on the neck.
Protests sparked calling for Penny's arrest
After Neely's death was announced as a homicide, protests sparked across the city seeking Penny's arrest. While many people including activist groups like BLM and Democrats like AOC called the homeless man's death a"lynching" and "murder," others called Penny a hero for his action to protect other passengers and himself from the violent straphanger.
Neely's deteriorated mental health
Speaking of Neely's deteriorated mental health following the 2007 murder of his mother, his aunt said, "My sister Christie was murdered in ‘07 and after that, he has never been the same. It had a big impact on him. He developed depression and it grew and became more serious. He was schizophrenic, PTSD.
Doctors knew his condition and he needed to be treated for that."