Daniel Penny: Former US marine charged with manslaughter over subway chokehold death of Jordan Neely
A former US marine has been indicted on a charge of second degree manslaughter over the subway chokehold death of Jordan Neely.
A New York grand jury voted on Wednesday to indict Daniel Penny, an ex-sergeant, over the killing of Mr Neely in Manhattan, according to local media reports.
Bystanders recorded Penny, 24, putting Mr Neely, 30, in a chokehold on 1 May this year as they rode on an F train.
Mr Neely, a homeless former Michael Jackson impersonator who has battled mental illness, had been shouting about how hungry he was and how he was willing to return to jail or die, eyewitnesses said.
Penny has said he did not intend to kill Mr Neely and he acted to defend himself and other passengers on the train.
Jordan Neely had struggled with his mental health. Pic: Mills & Edwards LLP
However, witnesses claim Mr Neely did not physically threaten or attack anyone before Penny allegedly grabbed him.
The incident, which happened around 2.27pm, was filmed by freelance journalist Juan Alberto Vazquez and shared online.
Mr Vazquez told the New York Post that Mr Neely was screaming “in an aggressive manner” and complaining of hunger and thirst.
Mr Neely was a former Michael Jackson impersonator. Pic: Andrew Savulich/New York Daily News/TNS
Mr Neely did not physically attack anyone, he said, adding the veteran approached the man after he threw his jacket to the ground.
Mr Neely was found unconscious by police after the train stopped and was taken to hospital where he was declared dead.
His death was ruled as homicide by a medical examiner in New York City – sparking violent protests.
There have been protests in New York since Mr Neely’s death
Read more New York stories:
Canada wildfires cause haze over New York City
Three teens arrested for ‘stealing prized swan before killing and eating it’
Grieving relatives and loved ones bid a final farewell to Mr Neely at a funeral on 19 May.
Representatives for Mr Neely’s family accused Penny of feeling “entitled” to kill and criticised him for expressing no remorse.
Mr Neely’s father, Andre Zachery, told the New York Daily News he had not seen his son in four years.
He said Mr Neely’s mother, Christie Neely died violently. She was strangled in New Jersey in 2007, according to news reports at the time. Her body was found days later in a suitcase on a street.
Mr Neely, who was 14 when she died, gave evidence against his mother’s boyfriend at his murder trial.
Children are among the fatalities in a mass shooting at a child’s birthday party in California.
Police said four people had died and 10 were wounded in the incident in Stockton, about 60 miles east of San Francisco.
Officers were called on Saturday to a banquet hall just before 6pm local time (2am UK time) and district attorney Ron Freitas said children were among the dead.
He said the attacker was still at large.
First responders walk through a parking lot near the scene of a mass shooting in Stockton, California. Pics: AP
“We can confirm at this time that approximately 14 individuals were struck by gunfire, and four victims have been confirmed deceased,” San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Office said on X.
The post said early indications suggest it could be a “targeted incident” but that information remains limited.
Police have so far not disclosed the attacker’s identity and the motive is unclear.
Stockton’s vice mayor Jason Lee confirmed on Facebook that the shooting on Lucile Avenue happened at a child’s birthday party.
Pics: AP
Mayor Christina Fugazzi also said that “families should be together instead of at the hospital, standing next to their loved one, praying that they survive”.
California governor Gavin Newsom’s office added that he had been briefed on the “horrific shooting”.
Venezuela has accused Donald Trump of a “colonial threat” after he said the airspace “above and surrounding” the country should be considered closed “in its entirety”.
Mr Trump made the declaration amid growing tensions with President Maduro – and as the US continues attacking boats it claims are carrying drugs from Venezuela.
He wrote on Truth Social: “To all Airlines, Pilots, Drug Dealers, and Human Traffickers, please consider THE AIRSPACE ABOVE AND SURROUNDING VENEZUELA TO BE CLOSED IN ITS ENTIRETY.”
Air traffic above Venezuela on Saturday afternoon. Pic: FlightRadar24
Venezuela’s foreign affairs office called it a “colonial threat” and “illegal, and unjustified aggression”.
It accused the president of threatening “the sovereignty of the national airspace… and the full sovereignty of the Venezuelan state”.
President Trump’s words were part of a “permanent policy of aggression against our country” that breached international law and the UN Charter, it added.
The Pentagon and the White House have so far not given any additional detail on the president’s statement.
Mr Trump’s post comes after the American aviation regulator last week warned of a “potentially hazardous situation” over Venezuela due to a “worsening security situation”.
Nicolas Maduro is widely considered a dictator by the West. Pic: Reuters
The South American nation revoked operating rights for six major airlines that went on to suspend flights to the country.
Mr Trump warned a few days ago that land operations against suspected Venezuelan drug traffickers would begin “very soon”.
Such a move would be a major escalation in Operation Southern Spear – the US naval deployment in the Caribbean Sea and eastern Pacific that’s so far attacked at least 21 vessels.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Three killed as US strikes another alleged drug boat
Venezuela has said the attacks, which have killed more than 80 people, amount to murder.
The US has released videos of boats being targeted, but hasn’t provided evidence – such as photos of their cargo – to support the smuggling claims.
Read more:
Trump may have another motive in war on drugs
The US-Venezuela crisis explained
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Venezuela claims Trump creating ‘fables’ to justify ‘war’
The Pentagon has sought to justify the strikes by labelling the drug gangs as “foreign terrorist organisations” – putting them on par with the likes of al Qaeda.
It claims the boats targeted are carrying drugs bound for the US, although Sky’s chief correspondent says the final destination is likely to be Europe and West Africa.
President Maduro has denied Mr Trump’s claims he is involved in the drugs trade himself and said his counterpart wants to oust him so he can install a more sympathetic government.
Venezuelan officials have also claimed Mr Trump’s true motivation is access to the country’s plentiful oil reserves.
Mr Maduro is widely considered a dictator who’s cheated elections and has been president since 2013.
-
Sports2 years agoStory injured on diving stop, exits Red Sox game
-
Sports3 years ago‘Storybook stuff’: Inside the night Bryce Harper sent the Phillies to the World Series
-
Sports2 years agoGame 1 of WS least-watched in recorded history
-
Sports3 years agoButton battles heat exhaustion in NASCAR debut
-
Sports3 years agoMLB Rank 2023: Ranking baseball’s top 100 players
-
Sports4 years ago
Team Europe easily wins 4th straight Laver Cup
-
Environment3 years agoJapan and South Korea have a lot at stake in a free and open South China Sea
-
Environment1 year agoHere are the best electric bikes you can buy at every price level in October 2024