Daniel Penny “never intended to harm” Jordan Neely, a 30-year-old homeless man, before placing him in a fatal chokehold on a New York City subway earlier this week, according to his attorneys, as it remains unclear whether Penny will be charged in Neely’s death.
Daniel Penny, a Marine veteran, "never intended to harm" Jordan Neely.
Neely was “aggressively threatening” Penny and other passengers aboard a northbound F train Monday afternoon, according to attorneys Thomas Kenniff and Steve Raiser, before Penny “acted to protect” himself and others until help arrived.
Penny was previously identified as an unnamed 24-year-old Marine veteran, who was questioned by police and subsequently released after the incident—a decision that sparked local outrage and protests.
Penny—a former sergeant who left the service two years ago—reportedly held Neely in a chokehold for 15 minutes before his death.
Neely’s death was ruled a homicide by the city’s medical examiner Wednesday, prompting an investigation by the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office.
What To Know About Jordan Neely: Homeless Man Killed On New York Subway (Forbes)
This is a developing story and will be updated.