Daniel Penny acquitted in subway chokehold death of Jordan Neely
SUMMARY
Daniel Penny, a 25-year-old Marine veteran, was acquitted of criminally negligent homicide by a Manhattan jury in the May 2023 subway death of Jordan Neely. The verdict was reached after five days of deliberation, concluding a month-long trial with testimony from over 40 witnesses. The jury, composed of eight women and four men, unanimously decided in Penny’s favor.The case centered on a confrontation aboard a crowded uptown F train, where Neely, a homeless man with schizophrenia, was shouting and threatening passengers. Witnesses described Neely as "belligerent" and "unhinged," but noted he did not physically attack anyone. The defense argued Penny acted to protect passengers, presenting testimony about Neely's alarming behavior. They also challenged the cause of death, with forensic pathologist Dr. Satish Chundru testifying that Neely’s death resulted from a combination of factors, including sickle cell crisis, schizophrenia, and synthetic marijuana (K2).
