Former U.S. Marine Daniel Penny, aged 24, has spoken out for the first time following an incident in a New York City subway that resulted in the death of Jordan Neely.
Penny, who now faces second-degree manslaughter charges and a potential prison sentence of up to 15 years, has emphasized that the incident was not motivated by race.
In an interview with the New York Post, Penny clarified, “This had nothing to do with race. I judge a person based on their character. I’m not a white supremacist. I mean, it’s a little bit comical. Everybody who’s ever met me can tell you, I love all people, I love all cultures. You can tell by my past and all my travels and adventures around the world. I was actually planning a road trip through Africa before this happened.”
Although Penny refrained from discussing specific details of the incident due to his ongoing legal case, he acknowledged that it was an entirely different experience from anything he had encountered before.
He stated, “This was different, this time was much different.”
Penny shared that he had been on his way to the gym to go swimming and chose to take the subway due to his fondness for public transportation.
When asked about his thoughts on Neely’s family, Penny expressed deep sorrow for the loss of life and referred to the incident as a tragedy.
He also expressed a desire for systemic change, stating, “Hopefully, we can change the system that’s so desperately failed us.”
In response to whether he would take the same action again, Penny reportedly nodded affirmatively. “You know, I live an authentic and genuine life,” he said. “And I would—if there was a threat and danger in the present.”
Penny indicated that he has not closely followed the backlash surrounding the incident, as he had quit social media years ago.
As a result, he claimed to be unaware of some of the prominent left-wing figures who have criticized him, highlighting his preference for privacy and a life away from the spotlight.
