In a shocking turn of events, the Manhattan grand jury handed down an indictment against Daniel Penny in connection with the tragic death of Jordan Neely aboard a New York City subway train last month. Details of the indictment remain undisclosed at this time, as it is set to be unsealed during Penny’s arraignment in the near future, according to reports from various sources.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams expressed gratitude to District Attorney Alvin Bragg for conducting a comprehensive investigation into the untimely demise of Jordan Neely. With the grand jury’s indictment of Daniel Penny, Mayor Adams emphasized the need for a fair trial and the pursuit of justice, harkening back to his earlier statements when the initial charges were filed by the DA.
Daniel Penny, a Marine veteran in his twenties, turned himself in to the New York police approximately one month ago, facing charges of second-degree manslaughter. Despite being granted bail in the amount of $100,000, Penny opted not to enter a plea. If convicted of manslaughter, he could potentially face a prison sentence of up to 15 years.
Lawyers representing Penny have expressed their utmost confidence in his exoneration, asserting that they anticipate he will be cleared of all charges. Meanwhile, Penny and several eyewitnesses have provided their accounts of the incident. They maintain that on May 1, Jordan Neely, a homeless individual with a troubled history encompassing mental illness, criminal behavior, and captivating Michael Jackson impersonations, embarked on a rampage, threatening and terrorizing passengers aboard a subway train.
Bystander footage surfaced, identifying a man believed to be Penny, restraining Neely in a headlock with the assistance of others while he lay on the subway car floor. Tragically, Neely appeared to lose consciousness and was later pronounced dead at a hospital. The New York City medical examiner concluded that Neely’s demise was a result of “compression of neck (chokehold),” deeming it a homicide without attributing blame.
Attorneys representing Neely’s family have seized upon the allegation that Penny maintained the headlock for a staggering 15 minutes, demanding that he be charged with a more severe form of homicide. However, Penny’s legal team disputes this claim, affirming that Penny acted promptly and defensively in the interest of himself and fellow commuters. Over the weekend, Penny’s attorneys released video clips portraying the incident, asserting that the entire altercation lasted no longer than five minutes, contrary to the independent journalist’s account of 15 minutes.