In a recent video released by Daniel Penny, he provides a detailed account of the events that transpired on May 1, leading to the tragic death of Jordan Neely on a New York City subway. Penny, a former Marine, defends his actions by highlighting the erratic and threatening behavior exhibited by Neely towards fellow passengers.
According to Penny, Neely was acting erratically, throwing his jacket at passengers, yelling, and issuing threatening statements. Penny emphasizes that Neely repeatedly threatened individuals, saying he would kill them, was willing to go to jail for life, and even expressed a willingness to die. The former Marine stresses that the situation was frightening, not only for himself but also for the women and children present on the train. Penny felt compelled to take action to protect the other passengers, himself, and Neely.
Penny addresses the absence of video evidence capturing the events leading up to the physical altercation, asserting that passengers were too preoccupied with fear and attempting to distance themselves from Neely. According to Penny, videos only started circulating once the situation was under control. He mentions that this missing context has led to misconceptions about the incident.
In his video statement, Penny clarifies that his intention was to restrain Neely until the police arrived. He explains that he was praying for the authorities to take control of the situation, as he did not want to find himself in that position. Penny reiterates that he did not aim to harm Neely but rather to protect others from his threatening behavior.
Penny rebuts accusations that he attempted to choke Neely to death, pointing out that Neely’s chest was rising and falling, indicating that he was still alive. He categorically denies that race played a role in the incident and dismisses the notion as “absolutely ridiculous.” Penny emphasizes that he saw a man threatening passengers, regardless of their racial background. He cites the involvement of a man of color who helped restrain Neely as evidence against the racial narrative.
The medical examiner’s office reported that Neely’s cause of death was “compression of the neck.” As a result, Penny is now facing manslaughter charges related to the incident. He is scheduled to appear in court on July 17, where the legal proceedings will continue.
