BREAKING: Daniel Penny Indicted Over Subway Chokehold, Faces Up To 15 Years

In a case that has divided New York City and the country, former Marine Daniel Penny has been indicted by a Manhattan grand jury over the subway chokehold death of Jordan Neely, a homeless man with a history of violent behavior.

The incident, which took place in May, sparked citywide protests and ignited a fierce debate. Penny, 24, faces charges of criminally negligent homicide and second-degree manslaughter, which could lead to a prison sentence of five to 15 years if convicted. The indictment comes six weeks after the fatal confrontation on a subway train at the Second Avenue station in Manhattan.

On the day of the incident, Neely, known for his erratic behavior and mental illness, stormed onto the train around 2:30 p.m., causing panic among passengers with his threats and aggressive demeanor. According to Penny, Neely was yelling threats such as, ‘I’m going to kill you,’ ‘I’m prepared to go to jail for life,’ and, ‘I’m willing to die.’

Neely had worked with the Bowery Residents’ Committee to find permanent shelter, but had 42 previous arrests, including three for alleged assault. At the time of his death, he had a warrant out for his arrest related to an alleged assault of a 67-year-old woman in November 2021.

In an interview with Fox News Digital, Penny, a college student, recounted the fear and helplessness that filled the packed subway car. “Between stops, you’re trapped on the train, and there’s nowhere to go. You can try to move away, but you can only do so much on a packed car,” Penny said. “I was scared. I looked around, and I saw older women and children, and they were terrified.”

Penny, who believed Neely was under the influence of drugs, decided to intervene. He approached Neely from behind, wrapped his arm around his neck, and dragged him to the floor. Two other men assisted Penny in restraining Neely until he went limp. The city medical examiner later ruled Neely’s death a homicide resulting from compression of the neck.

The incident was partially captured on cellphone footage, which only shows the final four minutes of the encounter after Neely was already on the floor. In the video, a passenger can be heard warning Penny, “You’re going to kill him.”

The case has polarized public opinion. While some have criticized Penny as a murderer, many have hailed him as a hero for stepping in when others wouldn’t. The incident has also sparked protests across the city, disrupting traffic and train service. As the legal proceedings unfold, the country awaits to see how another infamous indictment could be carried out.