Jordan Neely – latest: Daniel Penny identified as ex-Marine who fatally choked homeless passenger

A former US Marine who placed Jordan Neely in a fatal chokehold on a New York City subway train has been identified as Daniel J Penny, multiple reports have confirmed.

The 24-year-old man has reportedly hired attorney Thomas Kenniff, who ran unsuccessfully ran as a Republican against Alvin Bragg for the office of Manhattan district attorney in 2021. Mr Bragg received more than 80 per cent of the vote.

Manhattan prosecutors are investigating Neely’s death after the city’s medical examiner determined the 30-year-old man, a Michael Jackson impersonator who was experiencing homelessness, died from the compression against his neck. His death was ruled a homicide. No arrests have been made.

Harrowing footage filmed by journalist Juan Alberto Vazquez captured the fatal encounter that unfolded on an F train in Manhattan on Monday afternoon.

The incident has sparked protests across the city demanding justice for Neely’s killing, while federal, state and local officials have condemned volatile political rhetoric surrounding homelessness and the lack of urgency from Mayor Eric Adams.

Key Points

  • Passenger who fatally choked Jordan Neely identified

  • Jordan Neely’s death after subway chokehold ruled a homicide

  • Neely’s relatives speak out: ‘The system failed him’

  • AOC: ‘Jordan was houseless and crying for food in a time when the city is raising rents and stripping services’

  • In pictures: New Yorkers march in protest against death of Jordan Neely

Full story: Daniel Penny speaks

01:58 , Io Dodds

Here's my colleague Alex Woodward's full story on the statement released by Daniel Penny.

Daniel Penny ‘never intended to harm’ Jordan Neely after fatal chokehold: attorneys

Just in: Attorneys for Daniel Penny release statement

00:53 , Alex Woodward

Attorneys for Daniel Penny, the 24-year-old former Marine who was captured on bystander video choking Jordan Neely, have released a statement that both confirms his identity and claims that Mr Penny and others “acted to protect themselves.”

Mr Penny is represented by attorneys from Raiser and Kenniff.

“Earlier this week Daniel Penny was involved in a tragic incident on the NYC Subway, which ended in the death of Jordan Neely. We would first like to express, on behalf of Daniel Penny, our condolences to those close to Mr. Neely,” the statement says.

“Mr Neely had a documented history of violent and erratic behavior, the apparent result of ongoing and untreated mental illness. When Mr Neely began aggressively threatening Daniel Penny and the other passengers, Daniel, with the help of others, acted to protect themselves, until help arrived. Daniel never intended to harm Mr Neely and could not have foreseen his untimely death.

”For too long, those suffering from mental illness have been treated with indifference. We hope that out of this awful tragedy will come a new commitment by our elected officials to address the mental health crisis on our streets and subways.

Will a grand jury determine if charges should be brought?

21:48 , Alex Woodward

A grand jury could determine whether criminal charges are brought against the man who fatally choked Jordan Neely on a Manhattan F train on Monday, according to officials speaking with several New York outlets.

The office of Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg told The Independent that “senior, experienced prosecutors” are investigating Jordan Neely’s death.

“This is a solemn and serious matter that ended in the tragic loss of Jordan Neely’s life,” press secretary Douglas Cohen said. “As part of our rigorous ongoing investigation, we will review the [medical examiner’s] report, assess all available video and photo footage, identify and interview as many witnesses as possible, and obtain additional medical records.”

A law enforcement official close to the investigation told ABC News that the case is likely to go to a grand jury next week in order for the panel to determine whether criminal charges are warranted.

Detectives have reportedly interviewed several witnesses and are looking to talk to “four or five more” who were close to the scene, according to ABC News.

Daniel Penny, the man believed to be in a video showing his arm wrapped around Neely’s neck for several minutes before his death, already has provided a version of events to investigators, ABC reported.

NYPD seeks public’s help for subway killing

21:38 , Alex Woodward

NYPD is seeking additional “information, photographs, or video” related to the death of Jordan Neely.

No charges have yet been filed, and a person believed to be Daniel Penny filmed placing Neely in a chokehold was released after the incident.

Everything we know about the man filmed choking Jordan Neely in fatal subway incident

20:04 , Alex Woodward

What we know so far about Daniel Penny, who has been identified as the man captured in a widely shared video with his arm wrapped around Jordan Neely’s neck for several minutes.

Everything we know about Daniel Penny, filmed fatally choking Jordan Neely

Who is Daniel Penny?

18:54 , Alex Woodward

On Friday afternoon, news outlets confirmed the identity of the man whose fatal chokehold killed Jordan Neely, after online sleuths discovered his name on Thursday night. Several news outlets, including The New York Post and The New York Daily News, had tried reaching him for comment earlier this week, but they curiously withheld his name from the public.

According to a LinkedIn profile, Penny joined the US Marine Corp in 2017 after graduating from West Islip High School, roughly 36 miles outside of Manhattan.

Public records confirm an address at Marine Corps Base Camp LeJeune in Jacksonville, North Carolina.

He left the Marines in 2021. He wrote in a service industry job site that his military experience helped him discover that he is “passionate” about “helping, communicating, and connecting to different people from all over the world.”

Jordan Neely wanted help. A brutal narrative about homelessness blamed him for his own death

18:36 , Alex Woodward

New Yorkers are no strangers to disruptive people who ride the city’s 6,500 subway cars; subway riders typically keep to themselves and ignore them.

But Jordan Neely’s death has revived volatile media narratives about New York’s homeless population, spinning an act of vigilantism to blame the person killed by it. The mayor and governor have not explicitly condemned the act of lethal violence, raising questions among New York leaders whether the city considers the life of a homeless Black man less valuable than a white stranger prepared to use deadly force.

Advocates and lawmakers told The Independent that the deliberate and explicit rhetoric surrounding people experiencing homelessness, compounded by prolonged failures of policies meant to help them, have exposed thousands of New Yorkers and vulnerable people across the country to the kind of vigilante violence that killed Neely.

Jordan Neely’s death underscores violence against New York’s most vulnerable

Just in: Passenger who placed Jordan Neely in chokehold identified as Daniel J Penny

17:43 , Alex Woodward

A former US Marine who choked Jordan Neely to death has been identified as 24-year-old Daniel J Penny of West Islip, New York.

He has reportedly retained attorney Thomas Kenniff, who ran for Manhattan district attorney as a Republican, ultimately losing to Alvin Bragg, who received more than 82 per cent of the vote.

 (AFPTV/AFP via Getty Images)
(AFPTV/AFP via Getty Images)

‘New York was not a ‘safe city’ for Jordan Neely'

17:30 , Alex Woodward

Noah Berlatsky writes for The Independent:

Mentally ill people, homeless people, and marginalized people aren’t innately a threat merely by existing. But because their existence is seen as a threat, they are themselves often in serious danger. That danger may come from the police. It may come from civilians eager to call the police. And it may come from vigilantes who want to do some violent policing themselves.

New York was not safe for Jordan Neely | Voices

What charges could prosecutors bring against the man who killed Jordan Neely?

17:00 , Alex Woodward

The office of Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg confirmed in a statement to The Independent that “senior, experienced prosecutors” are investigating Jordan Neely’s death.

“This is a solemn and serious matter that ended in the tragic loss of Jordan Neely’s life,” press secretary Douglas Cohen said. “As part of our rigorous ongoing investigation, we will review the [medical examiner’s] report, assess all available video and photo footage, identify and interview as many witnesses as possible, and obtain additional medical records.”

A medical examiner has determined that Neely’s death was a homicide due to compression against his neck, after a subway passenger choked him to death.

It is unlikely that the man, who has not been identified by police or other officials, will face murder charges, but a potential criminal charge could include second-degree manslaughter or criminally negligent homicide, according to legal experts speaking with Gothamist.

Under New York’s “justification” law, a person can use physical force when their safety is at risk, including during incidents of self defense or the defense of a third party, the outlet reported.

Prosecutors or a grand jury likely will determine, after reviewing evidence from witness testimony and surveillance cameras, whether there was any such justification.

Neely family retains Mills & Edwards firm attorneys

16:30 , Alex Woodward

The family of Jordan Neely has retained attorneys with Mills & Edwards in the wake of Neely’s killing, The Independent has confirmed.

Attorney Lennon Edwards said in a statment that the team is taking the case “because 15 minutes is too long to go without help, intervention and without air. Passengers are not supposed to die on the floor of our subways.”

“We understand our current times have created a heightened sense of fear,” the law firm’s statement said. “However, there has to be a clear line of when lethal force can be used by anyone, including civilians.”

Attorney Donte Mills told Today on Friday that he would be surprised if no charges were filed in the case.

“It would be incredible to me if the outcome of this was no charge, because how can you say that it’s okay for someone to strangle someone,” he said.

Lethal chokeholds like the the one that killed Jordan Neely are increasingly banned in police departments across the country

16:00 , Alex Woodward

More than half the nation’s law enforcement agencies explicitly ban the use of neck restraints, also known as “carotid restraints” and more commonly referred to as chokeholds or strangleholds.

The US Department of Justice instituted federal-wide policy that explicitly forbids them in 2021.

The subway passenger who tackled and choked Jordan Neely to death on Monday afternoon used a similar lethal restraint. The New York City medical examiner determined that the compression against his neck caused Neely’s death, which was ruled a homicide.

Those restraints can compress the trachea, which blocks air to the lungs, and the carotid arteries on the side of the neck, major vessels that provide blood to the brain.

Cutting off that blood flow can make someone lose consciousness within seconds and kill them within minutes. Losing consciousness also can be an indication of brain injury.

How the US criminalizes homelessness

15:30 , Alex Woodward

State and local governments across the US increasingly are criminalising homelessness, from laws banning “public camping” or prohibiting where you can sleep or sit, or whether you can sleep in your car, loiter or ask for money, while public restrooms are closed overnight in many places.

At least 47 states have laws on the books criminalizing homeless people.

Jordan Neely’s death “is a direct result of the sustained political, systemic abandonment and dehumanization of people experiencing homelessness and mental health complexities, fueled by press coverage that clearly influences policies and emboldens vigilantes,” according to Jawanza Williams, director of organizing of New York advocacy organisation VOCAL-NY.

Hundreds of New Yorkers died while homeless within the last two years

15:00 , Alex Woodward

In February, 74,762 people were sleeping in the city’s shelter system, according to a population survey from the Coalition for the Homeless. That figure does not include the thousands of New Yorkers on the city’s streets and subways.

Last year, three people in New York were stabbed, one fatally, while sleeping on the street. A shooting spree across New York and Washington DC resulted in the killings of two men, and three others were injured.

That year, at least 15 homeless New Yorkers were murdered. A year earlier, 22 homeless New Yorkers were murdered. Of the 640 deaths among homeless New Yorkers in 2021, 151 were unsheltered.

In the deadliest year on record for New York’s homeless population, 815 people died while homeless in 2022.

New Yorkers plan for vigils, rallies demanding justice

14:40 , Alex Woodward

Good morning from New York City.

New Yorkers are planning more rallies and vigils this week demanding justice for the killing of Jordan Neely after he was choked to death by a subway passenger on Monday afternoon.

A rally has been planned outside the Manhattan district attorney’s office on Friday afternoon, while another is planned at Washington Square Park on Friday evening.

The rallies follow several protests, rallies and marches this week, including a protest on the platform at Broadway-Lafayette subway station on Wednesday.

 (AP)
(AP)

Black Lives Matter and NAACP join Democrats in call for accountability

14:30 , Joe Sommerlad

The civil rights organisations have added their considerable voices to the growing call for justice for Jordan Neely.

Gustaf Kilander has more.

BLM and NAACP join Democrats in calling for accountability in Jordan Neely killing

‘New York was not a safe city for Jordan Neely’

14:00 , Joe Sommerlad

For Indy Voices, Noah Berlatsky has this take on the tragedy.

New York was not safe for Jordan Neely | Voices

Sean Hannity audience member 'cheers' NYC subway rider who killed homeless passenger

13:30 , Joe Sommerlad

Here’s a little more reaction from the Fox studio.

Protesters express anger over Jordan Neely’s death for second night

13:00 , Joe Sommerlad

Dozens of people gathered on Thursday night in Brooklyn’s Barclay Center for a second day of demonstrations.

On Wednesday, a few dozen protesters had gathered at the station where Neely died to call for an arrest.

Kyle Ishmael, a 38-year-old Harlem resident, said the video left him “disgusted”.

“I couldn’t believe this was happening on my subway in my city that I grew up in”, he said.

Here’s Rachel Sharp’s report.

Protesters gather on NYC subway as Jordan Neely’s chokehold death is ruled a homicide

Big Apple reels from subway death

12:30 , Joe Sommerlad

New York has become one of the nation’s safest large cities, but the emotional responses recalled the metropolis of decades ago, when residents felt besieged by crime and fatal vigilantism made national headlines.

According to the AP, many New Yorkers see Jordan Neely’s death as the latest in a long history of attacks on Black city residents.

“We’re like animals in white people’s backyards. They want to get rid of us,” said Diango Cici, a 53-year-old Manhattan resident.

In the absence of video showing precisely what happened prior to the chokehold, many New Yorkers told the press agency they were reserving judgement until more information comes to life.

Among them was Mayor Eric Adams, who said on Thursday that there were “many layers” to the incident. He rejected criticism that he has not expressed enough outrage over Neely’s death, unlike other officials who have called for a quick arrest.

“All the other electeds, they have a role to play and I have a role to play. The police is doing their investigation and the district attorney is doing his investigation, and I respect the process,” Mayor Adams said.

State governor Kathy Hochul called the video-recorded encounter “wrong” and “horrific to view”, adding that Neely’s “family deserves justice”. But the governor said she was watching how the matter unfolds.

“No one has the right to take the life of another person. And in this circumstance, I have said all along and have stood firm in our commitment to helping people with mental health challenges,” Governor Hochul told reporters after a meeting with union workers in Manhattan.

She said sometimes people are loud and emotional in public, but it was “very clear” that Neely was not going to harm others and the video showed a “very extreme response”.

Street performers who knew Neely described him as a kind and gifted impressionist who sank into a depression as a result of his mother’s 2007 murder.

Tari Tudesco, a backup dancer in the Michael Jackson tribute act “Michael’s Mirror”, said many in the community had grown worried about Neely’s absence in recent years, and had begun searching for him, unsuccessfully.

“We were in shock to find now that he was living homeless,” she said. “We feel terrible.”

AP

Fox commentator blames ‘emasculation of the police’ for Neely death

12:00 , Joe Sommerlad

Greg Gutfield here labels the dead man “a violent felon” and uses the tragedy to attack progressive Democrats for supporting the alleged weakening of police powers in the wake of the killing of George Floyd in 2020.

Brian Kilmeade, on the same network, was likewise quick to cite Neely’s prior arrest record and blame the lack of guards on the subway for creating the situation.

Their attitudes are typical of much of the right-wing commentary online, which is, on the whole, more inclined to side with the restrainer or attempt to smear the victim rather than lament the failings of New York’s mental health infrastructure, which ultimately meant Jordan Neely did not receive the help he needed and led to this sorry end.

Jordan Neely had been an expert Michael Jackson impersonator

11:40 , Joe Sommerlad

The victim at the heart of this desperate tragedy grew up to be known as an expert Michael Jackson impersonator, performing on the subway and in Times Square, his skills evident in a number of videos widely shared on social media in the wake of his death.

A neighbour of the deceased’s father told The New York Daily News this week that the teenage Neely used dancing as an outlet to help him deal with his struggles with mental health, much of which appears to have brought on by the horrific murder of his mother Christie in 2007 at the hands of her boyfriend, at whose trial Jordan bravely testified.

‘Vigilante’ accused of causing Jordan Neely’s death hires attorney

11:20 , Joe Sommerlad

The US Marine who placed Jordan Neely in a chokehold on a New York City subway train on Monday afternoon before his death is said to have lawyered up amid a growing swell of outrage in the city.

The New York Post reports that the 24-year-old Queens man has hired attorney Thomas Kenniff – a man who ran unsuccessfully against Alvin Bragg for the position of Manhattan district attorney.

On Thursday, Mr Bragg’s office met with NYPD detectives to weigh up possible criminal charges against the Marine, who has not been publicly named by officials.

Neely’s death has been ruled a homicide by neck compression but no arrests have been made.

Kenniff, a Republican, is an Iraq War veteran and major in the Army National Guard as well as a a former Westchester prosecutor and founding partner at Raiser & Kenniff, according to The Post, which adds that he did not wish to comment on his new client when approached on Thursday.

A spokesperson for DA Bragg said on Wednesday evening: “As part of our rigorous ongoing investigation, we will review the Medical Examiner’s report, assess all available video and photo footage, identify and interview as many witnesses as possible, and obtain additional medical records.”

NYC officials drift apart in reactions to Neely’s death

11:00 , Gustaf Kilander

New York officials began drifting apart as they reacted to the news of Neely’s death.

City Comptroller Brad Lander tweeted on Tuesday that “NYC is not Gotham. We must not become a city where a mentally ill human being can be choked to death by a vigilante without consequences. Or where the killer is justified & cheered”.

“Jordan Neely was murdered. But bc Jordan was houseless and crying for food in a time when the city is raising rents and stripping services to militarize itself while many in power demonize the poor, the murderer gets protected w/ passive headlines + no charges,” Rep Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez tweeted. “It’s disgusting.”

Mayor Eric Adams appeared on CNN, criticising other elected officials for seeming to be getting ahead of Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg.

“I don’t think that’s very responsible at a time when we are still investigating the situation. Let’s let the DA conduct his investigation with law enforcement officials,” the mayor said. “To interfere with that is not the right thing to do.”

Who was Jordan Neely?

02:12 , Io Dodds

Friends and relatives lauded Jordan Neely as "a nice person", a "great performer", and "a good kid".

So who was he? Here's what we know so far.

Jordan Neely, the man killed in a NYC subway chokehold

New York was not a ‘safe city’ for Jordan Neely

10:30 , Sravasti Dasgupta

Democratic state senator Julia Salazar compared Neely’s horrific killing to a lynching – the public extermination of a Black, marginalized person in the name of restoring public order.

Though Neely was not killed by the police, his death painfully shows how mainstream rhetoric of policing, order, and safety all frame marginalized people as innately unsafe. From this viewpoint, “safety” means hiding, quelling, or even outright eliminating certain marginalized populations – Black people, homeless people, mentally ill people, poor people.

Noah Berlatsky writes:

New York was not safe for Jordan Neely | Voices

From Michael Jackson impersonator to harrowing death: Who was the homeless man killed on the NYC subway?

10:00 , Joe Sommerlad

Jordan Neely, a 30-year-old homeless man, was killed in a New York City subway train on Monday afternoon after he apparently suffered a mental health episode, leading a fellow passenger to wrestle him to the floor with the help of two others, holding him in a chokehold.

The shocking incident was captured on phone video at the scene, sparking debate among New Yorkers about the rights and wrongs of the vigilante’s actions and the extent to which Neely’s behaviour could have been interpreted as a threat to the safety of his fellow passengers.

Eyewitness Juan Alberto Vazquez, a freelance journalist, told The New York Post precisely what happened after Neely boarded the northbound F train at Second Avenue station.

“He starts to make a speech. He started screaming in an aggressive manner,” Mr Vazquez said.

“He said he had no food, he had no drink, that he was tired and doesn’t care if he goes to jail. He started screaming all these things, took off his jacket, a black jacket that he had, and threw it on the ground.”

Read more:

Who was the homeless Michael Jackson impersonator killed on the NYC subway?

ICYMI: New Yorkers march in protest over Neely's death

02:10 , Io Dodds

Protesters marched through Manhattan on Wednesday afternoon to protest the death of Jordan Neely.

Here's some photos of the protest, courtesy of the Associated Press.

The killing of Jordan Neely underscores violence facing vulnerable New Yorkers

09:30 , Sravasti Dasgupta

New Yorkers are no strangers to unstable or disruptive people who ride the city’s 6,500 subway cars; subway riders typically keep to themselves and ignore them.

But Neely’s death has revived volatile media narratives about New York’s homeless population, spinning an act of vigilantism to blame the person killed by it.

The mayor and governor have not explicitly condemned the act of lethal violence, raising questions among New York leaders whether the city considers the life of a homeless Black man less valuable than a white stranger prepared to use deadly force.

Alex Woodward writes:

Jordan Neely’s death underscores violence against New York’s most vulnerable

‘Jordan was houseless and crying for food in a time when the city is raising rents and stripping services'

09:00 , Gustaf Kilander

New York Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez tweeted on Wednesday evening that “Jordan Neely was murdered. But bc Jordan was houseless and crying for food in a time when the city is raising rents and stripping services to militarize itself while many in power demonize the poor, the murderer gets protected w/ passive headlines + no charges. It’s disgusting”.

“It is appalling how so many take advantage of headlines re: crime for an obsolete ‘tough on crime’ political, media, & budgetary gain, but when a public murder happens that reinforces existing power structures, those same forces rush to exonerate&look the other way. We shouldn’t,” she added.

Podcaster Keith Olbermann replied: “It was as much a vigilante act as Bernie Goetz. Arrest the SOB.”

Goetz shot four African American men on the New York Subway in 1984.

‘The system failed him’: Relatives speak out after Jordan Neely subway chokehold killing

08:30 , Sravasti Dasgupta

Relatives of Jordan Neely spoke out following the killing of the 30-year-old homeless man in an incident on the New York subway.

Neely’s aunt, Carolyn Neely, told The New York Post: “My sister Christie was murdered in 2007 and after that, he has never been the same.

“It had a big impact on him. He developed depression and it grew and became more serious. He was schizophrenic, PTSD. Doctors knew his condition and he needed to be treated for that.“The whole system just failed him. He fell through the cracks of the system.”

Read more:

Relatives speak out after Jordan Neely subway chokehold killing

New York City council speaker Adrienne Adams issues statement

08:00 , Gustaf Kilander

Jordan Neely was a New Yorker, a son, and a performer, and he should still be alive. My heart and condolences are with his loved ones during this difficult time.

His killing at the hands of a fellow passenger and the responses to this violence that took his life have been not only tragic but difficult to absorb. Racism that continues to permeate throughout our society allows for a level of dehumanization that denies Black people from being recognized as victims when subjected to acts of violence.

The perceptions of Black people have long been interpreted through a distorted, racialized lens that aims to justify violence against us. It is another example of how far we remain from an equitable and just society.

Let’s be clear: any possible mental health challenges that Jordan may have been experiencing were no reason for his life to be taken.

The initial response by our legal system to this killing is disturbing and puts on display for the world the double standards that Black people and other people of color continue to face.

There must be accountability for his killing, and a thorough investigation by the Manhattan district attorney that accounts for the facts and these realities is critical. Everyone in our city and nation should be reflecting on what this incident represents and says about us.

New York City council speaker Adrienne Adams

Protesters gather for second day of demonstrations in New York City

07:30 , Sravasti Dasgupta

Dozens of people gathered last night in Brooklyn’s Barclay Center for a second day of demonstrations against the death of Jordan Neely.

Kyle Ishmael, a 38-year-old Harlem resident, said the video showing Neely in a chokehold left him “disgusted.”

“I couldn’t believe this was happening on my subway in my city that I grew up in,” he was quoted as saying to the Associated Press.

The death of Neely on the New York Subway has been ruled a homicide after the 30-year-old homeless man was filmed being placed in a chokehold after acting in an erratic manner, seemingly frustrated about his personal situation.

Tari Tudesco, a backup dancer in the Michael Jackson tribute act “Michael’s Mirror,” said many in the community had grown worried about Neely’s absence in recent years, and had begun searching for him, unsuccessfully.

“We were in shock to find now that he was living homeless,” she said.

“We feel terrible.”

 (AP)
(AP)

DA urges anyone with information to come forward

07:00 , Gustaf Kilander

A spokesperson at the Manhattan DA’s office said in a statement:

“This is a solemn and serious matter that ended in the tragic loss of Jordan Neely’s life.

“As part of our rigorous ongoing investigation, we will review the Medical Examiner’s report, assess all available video and photo footage, identify and interview as many witnesses as possible, and obtain additional medical records.

“This investigation is being handled by senior, experienced prosecutors and we will provide an update when there is additional public information to share.

“The Manhattan D.A.’s Office encourages anyone who witnessed or has information about this incident to call 212-335-9040.”

ICYMI: Black Lives Matter and NAACP join Democrats in calling for accountability

06:30 , Sravasti Dasgupta

Black Lives Matter and the NAACP joined the growing number of Democrats calling for accountability in the chokehold killing of 30-year-old homeless man Jordan Neely.

The death of Neely on the New York Subway has been ruled a homicide after the 30-year-old homeless man was filmed being placed in a chokehold after acting in an erratic manner, frustrated about his personal situation.

Gustaf Kilander has more:

BLM and NAACP join Democrats in calling for accountability in Jordan Neely killing

‘A new low’: AOC blasts New York Mayor’s statement after Neely’s death

06:00 , Ariana Baio

“This honestly feels like a new low,” Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez said on Twitter on Wednesday in response to a Mr Adams’ statement.

“Not being able to clearly condemn a public murder because the victim was of a social status some would deem ‘too low’ to care about,” Ms Ocasio-Cortez added. “The last sentence is especially rich from an admin trying to cut the very services that could have helped him.”

Eric Adams and AOC clash over killing of homeless man placed in chokehold by NYC subway passenger

05:15 , Ariana Baio

New York City Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez pushed back on a statement issued by New York City Mayor Eric Adams on the murder of a man riding the subway saying Mr Adams reached “a new low.”

Mr Adams issued a statement on Wednesday, as reported by Gotham Gazette journalist Ben Max, in which he addressed the murder of an unhoused man on a New York City subway.

“Any loss of life is tragic,” Mr Adams’ statement began. “There’s a lot we don’t know about what happened here, so I’m going to refrain from commenting further.”

“However, we do know there were serious mental health issues in play here which is why our administration has made record investment in providing care to those who ended it and getting people off the streets and subways, and out of dangerous situations,” the statement continued.

The unhoused man, identified as 30-year-old Jordan Neely, was killed after being placed in a chokehold by a subway passenger- something Mr Adams did not address in his statement.

Read more:

Eric Adams and AOC clash over death of homeless man on NYC subway

‘Jordan Neely, say his name!’: Death of 30-year-old spark New York protests

04:30 , Rachel Sharp

‘Jordan Neely, say his name!’: Death of 30-year-old spark New York protests

On Wednesday, the medical examiner officially ruled Neely’s death a homicide and determined that it was caused by the chokehold.

But, despite the ruling, the 24-year-old veteran has not been arrested over his death – sparking outrage among New Yorkers.

A large group of protesters gathered inside the East Houston and Lafayette subway station on Wednesday demanding charges be brought against Neely’s accused killer.

They chanted “Jordan Neely, say his name!” and “F*** Eric Adams” as they were met by a heavy NYPD presence.

Protesters gather on NYC subway demanding charges as chokehold death of homeless man is ruled a homicide

03:45 , Rachel Sharp

Protesters gathered on a New York City subway platform on Wednesday demanding justice for a homeless man after his death was ruled a homicide.

Jordan Neely, 30, died when a Marine veteran, 24, placed him in a chokehold on board an F Train in Manhattan on Monday afternoon.

Disturbing cellphone footage, circulating online, shows the veteran – who has not been publicly named – wrestling Neely to the floor before pinning him in a chokehold.

Neely, who used to be a Michael Jackson impersonator at Times Square, was held in the chokehold for almost three minutes while two other passengers were also seen helping to restrain him.

The 30-year-old lost consciousness and was rushed to hospital. He never regained consciousness and was pronounced dead that day.

Read more:

Protesters gather on NYC subway as Jordan Neely’s chokehold death is ruled a homicide

‘He was really such a sweet kid, he just had a bad time'

03:00 , Gustaf Kilander

Tattoo artist Melyssa Votta told Gothamist that she met Neely in high school.

“He was really such a sweet kid, he just had a bad time,” she said, adding that they would spend time together at Union Square Park and at a McDonald’s in the area.

“We would always hang out there. He was a regular kid,” she told the outlet.

“He had this dream of being the dancer that he was,” she said. “He made it happen.”

‘Jordan could have been housed but nobody cares'

02:15 , Gustaf Kilander

Larry Malcolm Smith Jr told Gothamist that he met Neely while in foster care about ten years ago and saw him as an older brother.

He said Neely shared the money he made dancing to allow other children could get food or a haircut.

“This was a good guy,” Mr Smith told the outlet. “He would be in the New York City train station using his God-gifted ability and talent.”

“I just want people to know the positives,” he added.

“Jordan could have been housed but nobody cares,” he said, adding that Neely was failed by the systems meant to help young New Yorkers.

The killing of Jordan Neely exposes the ugly truth about how America sees homeless people

01:31 , Josh Marcus

On a Monday afternoon F train in Manhattan, a passenger wrestled another man to the ground and wrapped his arm around his neck for several minutes. He died moments later.

Jordan Neely’s death was recorded by another passenger and preserved in a widely shared video. The 24-year-old white man who placed Neely in a chokehold has not been identified. He was released from police custody without any charges.

His cause of death was a homicide. The 30-year-old Black man – known for his precise Michael Jackson impersonations on subway platforms while experiencing homelessness in New York City – died from the compression against his neck, according to the city’s medical examiner.

New Yorkers are no strangers to unstable or disruptive people who ride the city’s 6,500 subway cars; subway riders typically keep to themselves and ignore them.

But Neely’s death has revived volatile media narratives about New York’s homeless population, spinning an act of vigilantism to blame the person killed by it. The mayor and governor have not explicitly condemned the act of lethal violence, raising questions among New York leaders whether the city considers the life of a homeless Black man less valuable than a white stranger prepared to use deadly force.

Alex Woodward reports.

Jordan Neely’s death underscores violence against New York’s most vulnerable

‘I suggest the Democrats get their ducks in a row,’ attorney and commentator says

01:30 , Gustaf Kilander

Attorney and political commentator Olayemi Olurin tweeted on Thursday afternoon: “I am going to break my back speaking against Hochul and Eric Adams for the remainder of their terms and ESPECIALLY when they next run for election + I don’t want to hear zilch about them being the lesser of 2 evils when they are the evil costing New Yorkers their lives.”

“I suggest the Democrats get their ducks in a row and find somebody in the party to replace them with cuz it’s a WRAP on them and I’ll be damned me or any other progressive advocates get muscled into supporting them. F*** them and f*** that,” she added.

“We have a lot of Democrat politicians in NY who absolutely do NOT support Eric Adams and Kathy Hochul’s assault on the rights of Black, brown, poor, and houseless New Yorkers—but many of them are not doing enough to stop them + we demand more if they want to keep being elected,” she said.

Official NYPD statement on Neely’s death

01:00 , Gustaf Kilander

On Monday, May 1, 2023 at approximately 1427 hours, police responded to multiple 911 calls of an incident at the Broadway-Lafayette Street subway station, located within the confines of the 5th Precinct and Transit District 4.

Upon arrival, officers discovered a 30-year-old male unconscious on the floor of a northbound ‘F’ train with a number of individuals standing at the scene.

Officers began administering CPR and EMS responded and transported the aided male to Lenox Health Greenwich Village, where he was pronounced deceased.

On Wednesday, May 3, 2023 the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner deemed this incident a homicide.

The deceased has been identified as follows:Neely, Jordan30-year-old maleUndomiciled

NYPD

New York state senators call Neely’s death a ‘lynching'

Friday 5 May 2023 00:30 , Gustaf Kilander

New York State Senators Julia Salazar and Jabari Brisport have both said Neely was lynched.

“Jordan Neely was lynched. He had no food, no water, no safe place to rest. He had the audacity to publicly yell about that massive injustice, so they killed him,” Mr Brisport tweeted.

“A man named Jordan Neely was choked to death in public on the subway this week while people watched and even cheered. This is horrific. The constant demonization of poor people and people in mental health crisis in our city allows for this barbarism. It is making our city sick,” Ms Salazar said. “This was a lynching.”

‘This is not leadership’: National Low-Income Housing Coalition CEO blasts comments by Eric Adams

Friday 5 May 2023 00:00 , Gustaf Kilander

The President and CEO of the National Low-Income Housing Coalition, Diane Yentel, slammed the response by New York Mayor Eric Adams in a tweet, saying “This is not leadership”.

VOCAL-NY criticises ‘dehumanization of people experiencing homelessness'

Thursday 4 May 2023 23:30 , Gustaf Kilander

The Director of Organizing at VOCAL-NY, an organisation that advocates for “low-income people affected by HIV/AIDS, the drug war, mass incarceration, and homelessness”, spoke out about the death of Neely on Wednesday.

“We are living in a state where a Mayor and Governor successfully campaigned to keep poor people in jails, flooded our subways with cops, and a white man can kill a Black man and be released without charge,” Jawanza Williams said in a statement. “The murder of Jordan Neely is a direct result of the sustained political, systemic abandonment and dehumanization of people experiencing homelessness and mental health complexities, fueled by press coverage that clearly influences policies and emboldens vigilantes.”

“People have been deputized by Mayor Adams’ and Governor Hochul’s hyper-conservative, fear-mongering rhetoric and now a man has been lynched,” he added. “Neely’s blood is on their hands, and any semblance of justice here requires accountability and a reversal of Adams’ austerity budget and Hochul to stop blocking progressive policy in Albany.”

Coalition for the Homeless slams ‘Mayor Adams’ complete failure to provide the critical mental health services'

Thursday 4 May 2023 23:00 , Gustaf Kilander

Dave Giffen, the Executive Director of the Coalition for the Homeless, said in a statement on Wednesday that “This horrific incident is yet another reminder of Governor Hochuls’ and Mayor Adams’ complete failure to provide the critical mental health services desperately needed by so many people in our city”.

“What’s more, the fact that someone who took the life of a distressed, mentally-ill human being on a subway could be set free without facing any consequences is shocking and evidences the City’s callous indifference to the lives of those who are homeless and psychiatrically unwell,” he added. “This is an absolute travesty that must be investigated immediately.”

Governor Hochul says Neely was ‘killed for being a passenger on the subway trains'

Thursday 4 May 2023 22:30 , Gustaf Kilander

New York Governor Kathy Hochul said on Thursday that “I do want to acknowledge how horrific it was to view a video of Jordan Neely being killed for being a passenger on the subway trains”.

“Our hearts go out to his family. I’m really pleased that the district attorney is looking into this matter,” she added. “As I said, there had to be consequences, and so we’ll see how this unfolds. But his family deserves justice.”

“No one has the right to take the life of another person,” she said. “This was an unarmed individual who had been on the subway many times, known by many of the regular travellers.”

“And you know, sometimes people have an episode where they’re displaying their feelings in a loud and emotional way, but it became very clear that he was not going to cause harm to these other people,” she added.

The governor said the video showed “three individuals holding him down until the last breath was snuffed out of him. I would say it was a very extreme response”.

The comments come following her statement on Wednesday, when she said, “People who are homeless in our subways, many of them in the throes of mental health episodes, and that’s what I believe were some of the factors involved here. There [are] consequences for behaviour”.

In a tweet, Lieutenant Governor Antonio Delgado simply said, “The consequences for mental health problems in New York should not be death”.

‘The system failed him’: Relatives speak out after Jordan Neely subway chokehold killing

Thursday 4 May 2023 22:00 , Gustaf Kilander

Relatives of Jordan Neely have spoken out following the killing of the 30-year-old homeless man in an incident on the New York subway.

His death on Monday has been ruled a homicide after he was filmed being placed in a chokehold by a subway passenger after acting in an erratic manner, frustrated about his personal situation.

The homicide ruling doesn’t decide intent or culpability.

The video, filmed by journalist Juan Alberto Vazquez, shows a man identified as Jordan Neely, 30, ranting aggressively and throwing his jacket on the ground when the commuter intervenes.

The passenger, whose name has not been released by police, pinned Neely to the ground in a chokehold for approximately 15 minutes, leaving him unconscious, according to the New York Post.

Read more:

Relatives speak out after Jordan Neely subway chokehold killing

Black Lives Matter and NAACP join Democrats in calling for accountability in Jordan Neely killing

Thursday 4 May 2023 21:30 , Gustaf Kilander

Black Lives Matter and the NAACP joined the growing number of Democrats calling for accountability in the chokehold killing of 30-year-old homeless man Jordan Neely.

The death of Neely on the New York Subway has been ruled a homicide after the 30-year-old homeless man was filmed being placed in a chokehold after acting in an erratic manner, frustrated about his personal situation.

The homicide ruling doesn’t decide intent or criminal culpability.

New York Mayor Eric Adams came under fire for his lack of rebuke following Neely’s death, including from Rep Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who called out Mr Adams for “not being able to condemn a public murder”.

Appearing on CNN, Mr Adams said, “We cannot just blanketly say what a passenger should or should not do in a situation like that.”

Read more:

BLM and NAACP join Democrats in calling for accountability in Jordan Neely killing

VOICES: New York was not a ‘safe city’ for Jordan Neely

Thursday 4 May 2023 21:00 , Noah Berlatsky

“We are making our city safer every day,” New York mayor Eric Adams boasted at the end of 2022. Adams has made law-and-order policing a central talking point of his administration, and he has continually claimed that he’s turning New York into a safer city.

After the events of this week, though, it’s clear that we need to ask “a safer city for who?” On Monday, a Black houseless man with a history of mental illness, Jordan Neely, was shouting at passengers on the New York subway. Witnesses said he did not physically assault or harm anyone. But a so-far unnamed white 24-year-old ex-Marine decided Neely needed to be subdued. He put him in a neckhold and, as bystanders watched, he choked Neely to death.

New York was not safe for Jordan Neely. Democratic State Senator Julia Salazar compared his horrific killing to a lynching – the public extermination of a Black, marginalized person in the name of restoring public order.

Read more:

New York was not safe for Jordan Neely | Voices

‘Jordan Neely’s murder is a heartbreaking tragedy'

Thursday 4 May 2023 20:30 , Gustaf Kilander

In a statement, New York Representative Dan Goldman, who represents the area where the incident took place, said that “Jordan Neely’s murder is a heartbreaking tragedy”.

“Mental illness should never be a death sentence, and he would still be with us in a more caring and compassionate society. We need to better address the mental health crisis in our city and country,” he added.

Jordan Neely grew up to be known as an expert Michael Jackson impersonator

Thursday 4 May 2023 20:00 , Joe Sommerlad

Jordan Neely grew up to be known as an expert Michael Jackson impersonator, performing on the subway and in Times Square, his skills evident in a number of videos widely shared on social media in the wake of his death.

‘The whole system just failed him,’ aunt says

Thursday 4 May 2023 19:30 , Joe Sommerlad

The deceased’s aunt, Carolyn Neely, told The Post: “My sister Christie was murdered in 2007 and after that, he has never been the same.

“It had a big impact on him. He developed depression and it grew and became more serious. He was schizophrenic, PTSD. Doctors knew his condition and he needed to be treated for that.

“The whole system just failed him. He fell through the cracks of the system.”

Neely’s father speaks out

Thursday 4 May 2023 19:00 , Joe Sommerlad

The victim’s father, Andre Zachery, has since given an interview to The New York Daily News in which he said that he had not seen his son for four years but that Neely had experienced tragedy as a teenager when his mother, Christine Neely, 36, was murdered by her boyfriend Shawn Southerland.

Her body was found in a suitcase by the side of the Henry Hudson Parkway in the Bronx in 2007 and Jordan Neely had testified at Southerland’s trial aged 18, which ultimately saw the defendant convicted and sentenced to 30 years in jail in 2012.

“His mother perished; she also got killed. And him now? Her boyfriend fatally shot her. And he now? By another person?” Mr Zachery said.

NYC officials drift apart in reactions to Neely’s death

Thursday 4 May 2023 18:30 , Gustaf Kilander

New York officials began drifting apart as they reacted to the news of Neely’s death.

City Comptroller Brad Lander tweeted on Tuesday that “NYC is not Gotham. We must not become a city where a mentally ill human being can be choked to death by a vigilante without consequences. Or where the killer is justified & cheered”.

“Jordan Neely was murdered. But bc Jordan was houseless and crying for food in a time when the city is raising rents and stripping services to militarize itself while many in power demonize the poor, the murderer gets protected w/ passive headlines + no charges,” Rep Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez tweeted. “It’s disgusting.”

Mayor Eric Adams appeared on CNN, criticising other elected officials for seeming to be getting ahead of Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg.

“I don’t think that’s very responsible at a time when we are still investigating the situation. Let’s let the DA conduct his investigation with law enforcement officials,” the mayor said. “To interfere with that is not the right thing to do.”

From Michael Jackson impersonator to harrowing death: Who was the homeless man killed on the NYC subway?

Thursday 4 May 2023 18:00 , Joe Sommerlad

Jordan Neely, a 30-year-old homeless man, was killed in a New York City subway train on Monday afternoon after he apparently suffered a mental health episode, leading a fellow passenger to wrestle him to the floor with the help of two others, holding him in a chokehold.

The shocking incident was captured on phone video at the scene, sparking debate among New Yorkers about the rights and wrongs of the vigilante’s actions and the extent to which Neely’s behaviour could have been interpreted as a threat to the safety of his fellow passengers.

Eyewitness Juan Alberto Vazquez, a freelance journalist, told The New York Post precisely what happened after Neely boarded the northbound F train at Second Avenue station.

“He starts to make a speech. He started screaming in an aggressive manner,” Mr Vazquez said.

“He said he had no food, he had no drink, that he was tired and doesn’t care if he goes to jail. He started screaming all these things, took off his jacket, a black jacket that he had, and threw it on the ground.”

Read more:

Who was the homeless Michael Jackson impersonator killed on the NYC subway?

PHOTOS: New Yorkers march to protest death of Jordan Neely

Thursday 4 May 2023 17:30 , Gustaf Kilander

Protesters march through the Manhattan borough of New York on Wednesday afternoon, May 3, 2023, to protest the death of Jordan Neely (AP)
Protesters march through the Manhattan borough of New York on Wednesday afternoon, May 3, 2023, to protest the death of Jordan Neely (AP)
Protesters march through the Broadway-Lafayette subway station to protest the death of Jordan Neely, Wednesday afternoon, May 3, 2023 in New York (AP)
Protesters march through the Broadway-Lafayette subway station to protest the death of Jordan Neely, Wednesday afternoon, May 3, 2023 in New York (AP)
Protesters march to protest the death of Jordan Neely, Wednesday, May 3, 2023 in New York. Four people were arrested, police said (AP)
Protesters march to protest the death of Jordan Neely, Wednesday, May 3, 2023 in New York. Four people were arrested, police said (AP)

‘We cannot just blanketly say what a passenger should or should not do,’ mayor says

Thursday 4 May 2023 17:00 , Gustaf Kilander

‘Jordan was houseless and crying for food in a time when the city is raising rents and stripping services'

Thursday 4 May 2023 16:30 , Gustaf Kilander

New York Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez tweeted on Wednesday evening that “Jordan Neely was murdered. But bc Jordan was houseless and crying for food in a time when the city is raising rents and stripping services to militarize itself while many in power demonize the poor, the murderer gets protected w/ passive headlines + no charges. It’s disgusting”.

“It is appalling how so many take advantage of headlines re: crime for an obsolete ‘tough on crime’ political, media, & budgetary gain, but when a public murder happens that reinforces existing power structures, those same forces rush to exonerate&look the other way. We shouldn’t,” she added.

Podcaster Keith Olbermann replied: “It was as much a vigilante act as Bernie Goetz. Arrest the SOB.”

Goetz shot four African American men on the New York Subway in 1984.

VIDEO: Protesters chant on NYC subway to demand charges over killing of homeless man

Thursday 4 May 2023 16:05 , The Independent

New York City council speaker Adrienne Adams issues statement

Thursday 4 May 2023 15:45 , Gustaf Kilander

Jordan Neely was a New Yorker, a son, and a performer, and he should still be alive. My heart and condolences are with his loved ones during this difficult time.

His killing at the hands of a fellow passenger and the responses to this violence that took his life have been not only tragic but difficult to absorb. Racism that continues to permeate throughout our society allows for a level of dehumanization that denies Black people from being recognized as victims when subjected to acts of violence.

The perceptions of Black people have long been interpreted through a distorted, racialized lens that aims to justify violence against us. It is another example of how far we remain from an equitable and just society.

Let’s be clear: any possible mental health challenges that Jordan may have been experiencing were no reason for his life to be taken.

The initial response by our legal system to this killing is disturbing and puts on display for the world the double standards that Black people and other people of color continue to face.

There must be accountability for his killing, and a thorough investigation by the Manhattan district attorney that accounts for the facts and these realities is critical. Everyone in our city and nation should be reflecting on what this incident represents and says about us.

New York City council speaker Adrienne Adams

DA urges anyone with information to come forward

Thursday 4 May 2023 15:25 , Gustaf Kilander

A spokesperson at the Manhattan DA’s office said in a statement:

“This is a solemn and serious matter that ended in the tragic loss of Jordan Neely’s life.

“As part of our rigorous ongoing investigation, we will review the Medical Examiner’s report, assess all available video and photo footage, identify and interview as many witnesses as possible, and obtain additional medical records.

“This investigation is being handled by senior, experienced prosecutors and we will provide an update when there is additional public information to share.

“The Manhattan D.A.’s Office encourages anyone who witnessed or has information about this incident to call 212-335-9040.”

‘A new low’: AOC blasts New York Mayor’s statement after Neely’s death

Thursday 4 May 2023 15:10 , Ariana Baio

“This honestly feels like a new low,” Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez said on Twitter on Wednesday in response to a Mr Adams’ statement.

“Not being able to clearly condemn a public murder because the victim was of a social status some would deem ‘too low’ to care about,” Ms Ocasio-Cortez added. “The last sentence is especially rich from an admin trying to cut the very services that could have helped him.”

Eric Adams and AOC clash over killing of homeless man placed in chokehold by NYC subway passenger

Thursday 4 May 2023 14:55 , Ariana Baio

New York City Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez pushed back on a statement issued by New York City Mayor Eric Adams on the murder of a man riding the subway saying Mr Adams reached “a new low.”

Mr Adams issued a statement on Wednesday, as reported by Gotham Gazette journalist Ben Max, in which he addressed the murder of an unhoused man on a New York City subway.

“Any loss of life is tragic,” Mr Adams’ statement began. “There’s a lot we don’t know about what happened here, so I’m going to refrain from commenting further.”

“However, we do know there were serious mental health issues in play here which is why our administration has made record investment in providing care to those who ended it and getting people off the streets and subways, and out of dangerous situations,” the statement continued.

The unhoused man, identified as 30-year-old Jordan Neely, was killed after being placed in a chokehold by a subway passenger- something Mr Adams did not address in his statement.

Read more:

Eric Adams and AOC clash over killing of homeless man on NYC subway

‘Jordan Neely, say his name!’: Death of 30-year-old spark New York protests

Thursday 4 May 2023 14:40 , Rachel Sharp

On Wednesday, the medical examiner officially ruled Neely’s death a homicide and determined that it was caused by the chokehold.

But, despite the ruling, the 24-year-old veteran has not been arrested over his death – sparking outrage among New Yorkers.

A large group of protesters gathered inside the East Houston and Lafayette subway station on Wednesday demanding charges be brought against Neely’s accused killer.

They chanted “Jordan Neely, say his name!” and “F*** Eric Adams” as they were met by a heavy NYPD presence.

Protesters gather on NYC subway demanding charges as chokehold death of homeless man is ruled a homicide

Thursday 4 May 2023 14:25 , Rachel Sharp

Protesters gathered on a New York City subway platform on Wednesday demanding justice for a homeless man after his death was ruled a homicide.

Jordan Neely, 30, died when a Marine veteran, 24, placed him in a chokehold on board an F Train in Manhattan on Monday afternoon.

Disturbing cellphone footage, circulating online, shows the veteran – who has not been publicly named – wrestling Neely to the floor before pinning him in a chokehold.

Neely, who used to be a Michael Jackson impersonator at Times Square, was held in the chokehold for almost three minutes while two other passengers were also seen helping to restrain him.

The 30-year-old lost consciousness and was rushed to hospital. He never regained consciousness and was pronounced dead that day.

Read more:

Protesters gather on NYC subway as Jordan Neely’s chokehold death is ruled a homicide

Death of 30-year-old Jordan Neely ruled homicide

Thursday 4 May 2023 14:11 , Gustaf Kilander

The death of Jordan Neely, 30, has been ruled a homicide.

The homeless man died on Monday because of “compression of neck (chokehold),” a New York City Office of the Chief Medical Examiner spokesperson said, according to CNN.

That ruling doesn’t decide intent or culpability.

Manhattan District Attorney’s Office spokesperson Doug Cohen said in a statement that “This is a solemn and serious matter that ended in the tragic loss of Jordan Neely’s life”.

“As part of our rigorous ongoing investigation, we will review the Medical Examiner’s report, assess all available video and photo footage, identify and interview as many witnesses as possible, and obtain additional medical records,” he added.

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