Daniel Penny is a former United States Marine who gained national attention following an incident on May 1, 2023, in which he restrained Jordan Neely, a homeless man, on a New York City subway
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. Neely’s death, which occurred after Penny applied a chokehold, led to a polarizing public debate on issues of mental health, homelessness, public safety, and the use of force by civilians
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The incident began when Neely, who was reportedly agitated and threatening passengers, boarded a northbound F train in Manhattan
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. Witnesses reported Neely expressing frustration with his living conditions, saying, “I don’t care if I go to jail” and “I’m ready to die,” which made some people feel intimidated, though no physical contact was initiated by Neely
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. Penny and two others approached Neely to subdue him
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. Penny applied a chokehold, which lasted several minutes, during which bystanders recorded video footage of the incident
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. Neely became unresponsive, and emergency responders were called to the scene
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. Neely was pronounced dead shortly thereafter, and the New York City Medical Examiner later ruled the cause of death to be homicide, citing “compression of the neck” as the primary factor
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Penny was charged with manslaughter, and the case became a significant legal and social focal point in the United States
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. Penny’s defense team argued that his actions were motivated by a belief that Neely posed an imminent threat to passengers on the train
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. Penny publicly expressed condolences to Neely’s family but maintained that his intention was to protect others, not to cause harm
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The trial was highly publicized, with footage of the incident being widely circulated on social media
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. The jury ultimately found Penny not guilty of criminally negligent homicide, and a charge of second-degree manslaughter was dismissed
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. The acquittal was divisive, with some viewing Penny as a hero who protected his fellow passengers from a threat, while others believed his conduct was unjustifiable and characterized him as a white vigilante who killed a vulnerable black man
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The case reignited debates over safety on public transportation and how the city looks after people struggling with both homelessness and mental illness
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. Protests were seen in New York after the case was jumped upon by Black Lives Matter, who characterized Neely’s death as racist
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. Penny disputed claims that race played a role in his actions, as he pointed out that a black man was among those who helped him subdue Neely after he threatened subway passengers
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In the aftermath of his acquittal, Penny was spotted back on the New York City subway, reading a book and appearing relaxed
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. The photo of him went viral, with some people expressing relief that he was able to resume his life, while others questioned why he remained in the city following his high-profile acquittal
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The incident involving Daniel Penny and Jordan Neely highlights the complexities of public safety, mental health, and the use of force
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. It serves as a reminder of the need for compassionate and effective solutions to address the challenges faced by vulnerable populations in our society.
For more information, you can watch this video about the incident and its aftermath.
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en.wikipedia.org
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en.wikipedia.org
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Newsweek | MSN
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Daily Mail
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