Name: Former US Marine Charged in Death of Homeless Man Breaks Silence: ‘Nothing to Do With Race’
Uploaded: 2023-05-22T22:29:01.000Z
Description: Daniel Penny, the U.S. Marine veteran who is facing criminal charges after he put a homeless man, Jordan Neely, in a fatal chokehold in New York City at the start of the month, has decided to speak publicly about the incident.

NTD Newsroom comprises teams of reporters, editors, and producers assigned to cover breaking news and other stories.


NTD Newsroom

NTD Plus

News

News you can trust from the U.S. and around the world. Critical information and insight. We cover the stories that others don’t. NTD News Today airs Monday–Friday at 11 a.m. ET.

NTD News Today

New York Sues Prediction Market Platform Kalshi Alleging 'Illegal Gambling Operation'

FDA Advisers Greenlit 6 Peptides for Compounding

Sheriff Reveals Hair, DNA Details in Guthrie Case

Senate Schedules Contempt Vote for Fauci on Aug. 5

Daniel Monaghan is a reporter for NTD News covering culture, social issues, and education. He holds a BA in Political Science and Government.

Daniel Monaghan

Fujimori Sworn in as Peru's President Reflects Latin America's Shift to the Right: Analyst

Ceuta Migrant Crossing a 'Violation' of Spain's Territorial Sovereignty, PM Says

Andrew Thomas is a reporter for NTD News primarily covering business, the economy, and technology. 

Andrew Thomas

The Associated Press is an American not-for-profit news agency headquartered in New York City. 

The Associated Press

US News

State News

California

Father of Boy Rescued From Pounding California Surf Says He Is Beyond Grateful to Teen Lifeguard

1.5 Million Rechargeable OCOOPA Hand Warmers Recalled as 1 Death, Many Injuries Reported

Polar Bears Chill Out as Heat Wave Hits Prague

Southern Europe Battles Major Wildfires

Stefania Cox is an NTD News anchor and national correspondent based at the network's global headquarters in New York City. Stefania anchors "NTD Newsroom," and co-anchors "NTD News Today" weekdays at 10:00 am ET.

Stefania Cox

NTD News Today Full Broadcast (July 31)

Paul Greaney is an NTD news anchor and producer. Since joining the company in 2018, he has anchored the station’s flagship Evening News broadcast, launched the NTD Business show, and produced documentary reports on pointed issues. 

The highlight of Paul’s time in the field was his coverage of the Hong Kong pro-democracy protests in 2019.

Paul Greaney

NTD News Today Full Broadcast (July 30)

NTD News Today Full Broadcast (July 29)

NTD News Today Full Broadcast (July 28)

NTD News Today Full Broadcast (July 27)

NTD News Today Full Broadcast (July 24)

NTD News Today Full Broadcast (July 22)

NTD News Today Full Broadcast (July 21)

NTD News Today Full Broadcast (July 20)

NTD News Today Full Broadcast (July 17)

Tom Gantert is a reporter for The Epoch Times.

Tom Gantert

Melina Wisecup is NTD's congressional correspondent based in Washington, covering Capitol Hill and campaign politics.

Melina Wisecup

Politics

Executive Branch

Trump Uses Recent Speeches to Warn Americans of Resurging Communism

Juliet Song is an international correspondent exclusively covering China news for NTD. She primarily contributes to NTD's "China in Focus," covering U.S.-China relations, the Chinese regime's human rights abuses, and domestic unrest inside China.

Juliet Song

Shows

Fast, compelling, first-hand news from China. China in Focus airs Monday–Friday at 9:30 p.m. ET.

China in Focus

2.8 Million People in China Evacuated Amid Typhoon Bavi

Breaking news and in-depth analysis from the United States and beyond. We bring you the latest updates, exclusive insights, and sharp discussions on the most pressing issues. NTD Newsroom airs Monday–Friday from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. ET.

US Announces Visa Restrictions Targeting Cybercriminals

NTD Movies

NTD+ Movies

The Unrestricted War

Joseph Lord is a congressional reporter for The Epoch Times.


Joseph Lord

Congress

House Passes Legislation to Make Daylight Saving Time Permanent

Troy Myers is a regional reporter based in St. Augustine, Florida. His background includes breaking, criminal justice, and investigative writing for local news, producing on a national morning newscast in Washington, D.C., and working with an award-winning, weekly investigative news program. In his free time, he enjoys spending time with his dog at the beach.

Troy Myers

Jason Perry is an Army veteran and NTD's national security correspondent. Jason primarily covers border security, national defense, foreign wars, and veterans' issues.

Jason Perry

Courts

Appeals Court Upholds Block on Trump Order to Tighten Mail-In Voting, Citizenship Verification

Sen. Lindsey Graham Likely Died After Aorta Tear, Medical Examiner Says

Bringing you the latest videos, livestreams, and premieres.


NTD Videos

Label

Live

NTD+ Live

Trump Makes an Announcement on Freedom Hauler in the White House

Mary Man is a writer for NTD. She has traveled around the world covering China, international news, and arts and culture.

Mary Man

China News

China Floods: Thousands at Risk After Multiple Dams Collapse in Guangxi

Jackson Richman is a Washington correspondent for The Epoch Times. In addition to Washington politics, he covers the intersection of politics and sports/sports and culture. He previously was a writer at Mediaite and Washington correspondent at Jewish News Syndicate. His writing has also appeared in The Washington Examiner. He is an alum of George Washington University.

Jackson Richman

House Passes Defense Policy Bill That Attaches SAVE America Act

Daniel Penny, the U.S. Marine veteran who is facing criminal charges after he put a homeless man, Jordan Neely, in a fatal chokehold in New York City at the start of the month, has decided to speak publicly about the incident.

In an <a href="https://nypost.com/2023/05/20/daniel-penny-breaks-silence-on-jordan-neely-nyc-subway-death/">interview</a> with the New York Post, the 24-year-old Penny said the deadly altercation that took place on a subway train in NYC "had nothing to do with race."

Neely, 30, is black. He had a long history of mental illness and more than 40 prior arrests ranging from disorderly conduct to assault, and an active warrant out for his arrest from a felony assault.

In responses to questions from the paper, Penny said, “I judge a person based on their character. I’m not a white supremacist."

“Everybody who’s ever met me can tell you, I love all people, I love all cultures," he said in the interview, published on Saturday.

When asked by the paper what he would say to the family of Neely, whose funeral was Friday, Penny said: “I’m deeply saddened by the loss of life."

"It’s tragic what happened to him," he added. "Hopefully, we can change the system that’s so desperately failed us."

New York police officers administer CPR to Jordan Neely on a subway train in New York on May 1, 2023. (Paul Martinka via AP)


<h2>Second-Degree Manslaughter Charge</h2>
Penny was arraigned in Manhattan Criminal Court on May 12, on charges of second-degree manslaughter.

The city medical examiner ruled the death of Neely a homicide due to “compression of neck (chokehold).”

Penny had pulled Neely to the floor and pinned him with a hold he learned during combat training, according to video of the incident.

Juan Alberto Vazquez, a freelance journalist who recorded the clip, previously told the New York Post that Neely had been threatening and screaming at other passengers “in an aggressive manner,” while also complaining of hunger and thirst.

At one point, Neely started to scream that he was “fed up” and doesn’t care anymore whether he would go to jail for life.

Penny then approached Neely to restrain him. In the video, two other riders are also seen restraining Neely’s arms as Penny holds him in a headlock. After they let go of the him, Neely is seen lying motionless on the floor.

According to the Post, Penny said he can't elaborate into the details of the confrontation due to pending court proceedings, but said that it wasn't like "anything I'd experienced before."

New York police officers respond to the scene where a fight was reported on a subway train in New York on May 1, 2023. (Paul Martinka via AP)


<h2>Lawyers Argue Self-Defense</h2>
Neely family attorney Lennon Edwards had <a href="https://www.theepochtimes.com/desantis-fundraises-for-ex-marine-daniel-penny-charged-over-subway-chokehold-death_5263477.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-summari-detected="true">told</a> reporters on May 12: “Daniel Penny chose, intentionally chose, a technique to use that is designed to cut off air—that’s what he chose—and he chose to continue to hold that chokehold minute after minute, second after second, until there was no life left in Jordan Neely."

But Penny’s lawyers have said he was acting in self-defense. His attorney, Thomas Kenniff, previously told the Post that he’s “confident” that Penny “will be absolved of any wrong doing.”

Kenniff and another lawyer, Steven Raiser, had issued a statement on May 5, saying that Neely had been "aggressively threatening” their client, and that Penny and others "acted to protect themselves, until help arrived.”

“Daniel [Penny] never intended to harm Mr. Neely and could not have foreseen his untimely death,” the lawyers said.

A crowdfunding campaign launched by Kenniff and Raiser to pay for Penny's legal fees has accumulated <a href="https://www.givesendgo.com/daniel_penny?s=01">over $2.7 million</a> as of the time of reporting.

"Any proceeds collected which exceed those necessary to cover Mr. Penny’s legal defense will be donated to a mental health advocacy program in New York City," the lawyers said.

If convicted of manslaughter in the second degree, Penny could face as much as 15 years in prison. He is due back in court for another hearing on July 17.

<em>Tom Ozimek and Lorenz Duchamps contributed to this report.</em>

<em>From <a href="https://www.theepochtimes.com/former-us-marine-charged-in-death-of-homeless-man-breaks-silence-nothing-to-do-with-race_5280598.html">The Epoch Times</a></em>

NEW YORK CITY

SUBWAY

Videos

04_Top Stories

New York

Latest Clips

Management

Mimi Nguyen Ly covers U.S. and world news.

Mimi Nguyen Ly

02_Second Lead

Jordan Neely

Daniel Penny

Latest and breaking news, documentaries, movies, and lifestyle content on NTD+.
 
Empower your knowledge and elevate your spirit with NTD+, your go-to destination for truthful news, insightful documentaries, and captivating lifestyle content that enriches your life.

Former US Marine Charged in Death of Homeless Man Breaks Silence: ‘Nothing to Do With Race’

Cary Dunst is the news anchor for NTD Evening News. He is also the co-host of NTD Good Morning.


Cary Dunst

News with integrity, from the United States and around the world. Focused reports and analyses that shed light on major issues the world deserves to know. NTD Evening News airs daily at 6 p.m. ET.

NTD Evening News

NTD Evening News Full Broadcast (July 31)

NTD Evening News Full Broadcast (July 30)

We present news that is truthful and based on facts, outside of the political fog. Instead of focusing on the negative things happening around us, our mission is to give our viewers a good morning with empathetic and uplifting stories. Our aim is to provide an antidote to negativity by shining a light on the best side of people. We speak to inspiring people who positively impact communities, pursue topics that represent our common human values, and will never miss an opportunity to bring you heartwarming stories.

NTD Good Morning

NTD Good Morning Full Broadcast (July 30)

NTD Evening News Full Broadcast (July 29)

NTD Good Morning Full Broadcast (July 29)

NTD Evening News Full Broadcast (July 28)

NTD Good Morning Full Broadcast (July 28)

NTD Evening News Full Broadcast (July 27)

NTD Good Morning Full Broadcast (July 27)

Chris Beers is an NTD News anchor and political correspondent based at the network's global headquarters in New York City. Chris co-anchors "NTD News Today" weekdays at 10:00 am ET.