Daniel Penny Acquitted in Polarizing Subway Chokehold Case

The former Marine's trial over the death of Jordan Neely reignited debates on crime, mental health, and public safety in New York City.

Daniel Penny, a 26-year-old Marine veteran, was found not guilty of criminally negligent homicide in the subway death of Jordan Neely, a homeless man with severe mental health issues.
The case centered on Penny's use of a chokehold to restrain Neely, who was acting erratically and threatening passengers on a New York City subway in May 2023.
Penny criticized Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg's decision to prosecute him, calling it politically motivated and reflective of failed public safety policies.
The incident and trial sparked national discussions on rising subway crime, the treatment of mentally ill individuals, and the boundaries of civilian intervention.
Neely, who had a history of arrests and untreated mental illness, was on a city list of at-risk homeless individuals but had repeatedly fallen through gaps in the social safety net.