A 26-year-old former marine has had his life turned upside down after trying to subdue a stranger on a subway in New York City. Daniel Penny jumped in to stop the stranger who was threatening to kill other passengers. For that good deed, he is now facing charges that could put him behind a jail cell for 12 years.
Actually, a jury deliberated all last week before the judge proclaimed a mistrial on the manslaughter charge. But there is a second charge that they began deliberating on Monday. By the time this is written we very much might know Penny’s fate.
But the fact that it got this far is nonsense. Penny put a chokehold on Jordan Neely, to stop him from threatening other passengers. Unfortunately, Neely died in Penny’s arms. It is inconclusive if Neely died from the chokehold, or substances in his body including K@ intoxication and a sickling crisis linked to his sickle cell trait. Both the prosecution and defense presented experts promoting their positions.
Neely had a record a mile long. 42 arrests at last count, one for assaulting a woman on the subway.
The prosecution called Eric Gonzalez who helped Penny restrain Neely. Gonzalez said he told Penny to let go of the choke hold. However later video footage shows Gonzalez claiming he lied because he was afraid he would be charged alongside Penny.
It’s nonsense because there are several witnesses who testified they feared for their lives. Penny stepped in to protect them and now he is being persecuted. Furthermore, Neely’s father has decided to file a lawsuit against Penny and Black Lives Matter has amassed its people to stage protests if Penny if found innocent.
The 26-year-old’s life will never be normal. He might spend time in prison as well as face a multi-million-dollar lawsuit that he will never be able to pay if Neely is successful. He will forever be labeled a privileged Caucasian that took the life of an innocent black man.
Safety on the subways has always been a major subject of discussion. It is the easiest way to get around New York City but many view it a dangerous ride. There have been several incidents that make many people think twice before they hop aboard.
Penny’s unfair prosecution will make others think twice about lending a helping hand on the subway or elsewhere, and that’s a damn shame. We need people like Penny to step in when others perceive danger. We are fortunate we live in rural areas where lending a helping hand is second nature, but beware, if you are in a large city, that help might turn to prosecution.
I hope the jurors do the right thing and let Penny free. The poor guy was only reacting to what others thought in the subway car was a life threatening situation. And as far as Neely is concerned, where were his family and friends when he was being arrested over and over. You should have helped him and maybe he wouldn’t have died.
UPDATE: As I’m writing this the jury came back after a few hours and found Penny, NOT GUILTY. Good for them. This case should never have been brought to trial. I now have an even greater respect for our jury system. A proper decision they made.
Hail to the young men who protect others in public.
Hail to those who step into the breach and stop violent, crazy people from destroying society.
That homeless nut should have been in an asylum.
The fact that this person was let off the hook when he could have simply choked him into unconsciousness rather than killing him is disgusting but not surprising in todays world. The fact that he then latches on to the whole MAGA cult for his Kyle Rittenhouse moment of fame tells you all you need to know. Evidently vigilante justice is now OK with the right (like it hasn’t always been). But then you live in a county that had a “constitutional” sheriff so evidently law and order have never been high priorities.