Marine Veteran Daniel Penny Disputes Charges of Manslaughter in Death of Jordan Neely

A 24-year-old Marine veteran, Daniel Penny, has released a statement through his attorneys in an attempt to defend himself against charges of manslaughter in the death of 30-year-old Jordan Neely. The incident occurred on May 1st on a northbound F Train in New York City and was partly captured on cellphone video.

In his statement, Penny disputed an eyewitness account that he held Neely in a chokehold for 15 minutes and denied that he put a chokehold on him. He also argued that he was acting as a “good Samaritan” in an attempt to protect people on the train from a confrontational man, including Neely himself.

The New York City Medical Examiner’s Office has ruled Neely’s death a homicide, citing the cause of death as compression of the neck and chest. The office also noted that Neely had mental health issues.

Penny has made several public remarks about the incident, including in an interview with the New York Post and a public statement on video that was released through his attorneys on Sunday. He is currently out on bail and is due back in court on June 9th.

The incident has sparked a debate about the use of force by police officers and other law enforcement personnel. It has also raised questions about how to best handle individuals with mental health issues in public spaces.