Daniel Penny was found not guilty of criminally negligent homicide by a jury on Monday for placing a man in a chokehold on a subway train in Manhattan.
The jury’s not guilty verdict followed hours of deliberation, with people in the courtroom breaking out into applause and some objections as the ruling was read. Penny, a former Marine, showed a brief smile while his lawyers embraced each other at their table, according to ABC New York.
BREAKING: Daniel Penny was just found not guilty of criminally negligent homicide.
— Greg Price (@greg_price11) December 9, 2024
Count 1: Dismissed
Count 2: Not Guilty.
Daniel Penny is free. pic.twitter.com/VgwZBEFpPj
Penny’s legal battle stemmed from placing Jordan Neely, a 30-year-old mentally ill homeless man, into a chokehold for about six minutes in May 2023, resulting in his death. Neely had boarded a subway train in Manhattan and began shouting at other riders, including saying that he was “fed up” and warning that “someone is going to die today,” according to witnesses.
Neely’s father was in the courtroom as the verdict was read and reportedly had to be forcibly removed from the courtroom by an officer.
The acquittal comes after Penny’s manslaughter charge was dismissed due to the jury being unable to reach a unanimous decision Friday.
Less than two weeks after restraining Neely, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg charged Penny with second-degree manslaughter and negligent homicide. Penny pleaded not guilty, stating he was trying to deescalate the situation, and was released on a $100,000 bond.
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A sizable group of protesters has gathered outside the courthouse in New York. Additional police officers are being brought in to deal with the situation, according to Fox News.
In reaction to the verdict, George Washington University law professor Jonathan Turley expressed gratitude on Fox News’s The Faulkner Focus, explaining that “we teach our children” not to walk away from danger and instead “do something.” He added that if Penny had been found guilty, it would have “shattered” this mindset and brought about greater concern for people using public transportation.