Following his acquittal of homicide charges, a military veteran who restrained a mentally ill man on a New York subway spoke out about his actions. The veteran, a former Marine, expressed feeling compelled to act in order to prevent harm to others. The incident occurred when the veteran, identified as Daniel Penny, put the man in a chokehold for approximately six minutes after the man had a disruptive outburst on the subway.
The deceased man, Jordan Neely, was described as volatile and mentally ill, with a history of violence and substance abuse. Neely, who was Black, had expressed threatening behavior on the subway, causing concern among passengers. The veteran, who is white, defended his actions as a means to protect himself and others from potential harm.
