Daniel Penny denies all charges related to the death of Jordan Neely.

Leif Le MahieuJune 28, 2023

Marine Veteran Pleads Not Guilty to Manslaughter Charges in NYC Subway Incident

Marine veteran Daniel Penny pled not guilty to manslaughter and negligent homicide charges on Wednesday after being accused of killing Jordan Neely on a New York City subway train last month.

Subduing a Threatening Passenger

On May 1, Penny placed Neely in a chokehold on the floor of a Manhattan subway car to subdue him alongside other passengers after witnesses said Neely was making threatening comments towards passengers on board the vehicle.

Pleading Not Guilty and Bail

Penny pled not guilty to second-degree manslaughter and negligent homicide before being freed on $100,000 bail. “We are a long way off from trial, but all the evidence we’ve seen is that our client acted under the law,” said Thomas Keniff, a lawyer for Penny.

History of the Deceased

Neely, a homeless man with more than 40 arrests, had a known history of mental issues before he died. The New York Daily News reported that Neely was most recently arrested in November 2021 on felony assault charges after being accused of “slugging a 67-year-old female stranger in the face.” After pleading guilty to the latter charge, Neely failed to appear for court, leading to a warrant being active for his arrest at the time of his death, per USA Today.

Family’s Perspective

“Daniel Penny did not have the courage to look Mr. Jordan’s father in the eye,” said Dante Mills, a lawyer for the Neely family.

Indictment and Response

Penny was indicted on June 14 after New York officials promised to investigate the incident. The indictment was praised by attorneys for Neely’s family.