Eyewitness Calls Daniel Penny A "Hero" For The Way He Restrained Jordan Neely
"The people on that train, we were scared. We were scared for our lives," a woman recalls from that fateful day on the subway.
A New York City subway incident involving Marine veteran Daniel Penny and homeless man Jordan Neely continues to provoke widespread debate. On May 1, Neely, a 30-year-old homeless man, was fatally choked by Penny, leading Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg to charge Penny with second-degree manslaughter.
Neely was reportedly exhibiting erratic behavior, storming onto the northbound F train around 2:30 p.m., loudly issuing threats to passengers. Amid escalating fear, Penny intervened when Neely started making clear threats. The confrontation resulted in Penny subduing Neely in a chokehold, leading to his death.
The case has triggered protests and stirred racial tension, as some have framed it as a white man who fatally choked a black man, leaving out important context about Neely, his reputation, and his actions. In addition, there has been criticism of the city's handling of mental health issues and crime, with comparisons drawn to the '80s and '90s when violent crime peaked.
The media has portrayed Neely as an innocent man who was nothing more than a Michael Jackson impersonator. But the truth soon came out when multiple forums were uncovered in which New Yorkers would warn each other about Neely's violent history, his 40+ arrests, and even his attempt to kidnap a 7-year-old child. They shared his picture online, saying that he dropped the Michael Jackson impersonations a long time ago and has since been a violent threat to innocent bystanders on the subway. A witness who was there on the subway that day has come forward to add more color to the story.
Eyewitness Calls Daniel Penny a "Hero" for the Way He Handled Jordan Neely
In a recent interview with Fox News Digital, an eye-witness to a harrowing incident on the New York City subway, where Marine veteran Daniel Penny fatally subdued a threatening homeless man, Jordan Neely, shared her perspective. Criticizing Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg for charging Penny with second-degree manslaughter, the witness firmly stated, "He’s a hero." Penny, who is out on a $100,000 bond, is due back in court on July 17.
Having lived in New York City for over half a century, the retiree, a woman of color, recounted the tense moments that unfolded on the subway that day. "It was self-defense, and I believe in my heart that he saved a lot of people that day that could have gotten hurt," she stated, recounting Neely's intimidating behavior.
Neely reportedly stormed onto the subway, shouting threats at the frightened passengers and shouting that he didn't care if he would go to jail for his actions. "The people on that train, we were scared. We were scared for our lives," said the woman. It was when Neely mentioned "killing" and "bullets" that Penny stepped in.
The witness defended Penny, indicating that he intervened only when he saw no other option to ensure the safety of his fellow passengers. Even after the altercation that tragically ended Neely's life, Penny didn't flee but waited for the police, visibly shaken and distressed.
Numerous activists and politicians have tried to make this about racism and white supremacy. However, the witness insisted, "This isn't about race. This is about people of all colors who were very, very afraid and a man who stepped in to help them."
The woman reflected on the city's changing scenario, drawing a comparison to the peak crime rates of the '80s and ’90s and the drop during Mayor Giuliani's zero-tolerance approach to crime. She expressed concern over the perceived regression of the city due to policies she believes don't effectively address mental health or hold criminals accountable.
The witness lauded the over $2.5 million raised for Penny's legal defense fund, hoping that justice would prevail. She denounced those vilifying Penny, including Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who likened the incident to a lynching. Highlighting broader societal issues, she pointed out how problems like those faced in New York City are now affecting the whole of the U.S., remarking, "It’s not looking that good for us."
Meanwhile, media outlets still refer to Neely as a subway performer and claim that he was just an innocent man who wanted to share his talent with the world and be fed a warm meal. This narrative has quickly unraveled as many people are learning the truth about him and his past.