Daniel Penny Hired by Andreessen Horowitz After Subway Chokehold Acquittal

The Marine veteran joins the firm's American Dynamism team months after being found not guilty in Jordan Neely's death.

Daniel Penny, a former Marine, was acquitted in December 2024 of criminally negligent homicide in the subway chokehold death of Jordan Neely, a homeless man with a history of mental illness.
Andreessen Horowitz, a prominent Silicon Valley venture capital firm, has hired Penny as a deal partner on its American Dynamism team, which focuses on sectors like defense, public safety, and aerospace.
In an internal memo, firm partner David Ulevitch praised Penny for his actions during the 2023 subway incident and emphasized the firm's policy of evaluating individuals holistically.
Penny's hiring has drawn public attention, with Vice President JD Vance celebrating the news and others continuing to debate the broader implications of the case.
The incident and trial highlighted issues of race, mental health, and public safety, sparking national discussions about self-defense and accountability in public spaces.