A Manhattan jury has cleared Daniel Penny of criminal wrongdoing in the chokehold death of Jordan Neely on a crowded subway — a caught-on-video killing that sparked fierce debate over the city’s mental health system and crime underground.
The courtroom erupted in applause as the panelists acquitted Penny of criminally negligent homicide — which could have put him behind bars for up to four years — in Neely’s chokehold death aboard a crowded uptown F train in May 2023.
“We the jury have come to a unanimous decision on county two,” the foreperson on the jury told the courtroom.
Penny immediately broke out a huge smile and turned to hug defense attorney Thomas Kenniff — even as Neely’s father, Andre Zachary, was escorted from the courtroom.
“Racist f—ing country,” one Black Lives Matter supporter yelled as she left the room. Another Neely supporter, turning to Penney, screamed, “It’s a small world, buddy,” before leaving the room.
Outside the courthouse, "Black Lives Matter (BLM)" activists began exhibiting outrage, picketing, and shoving people.
New York City Police intervened immediately to disperse the crowd, to little avail. At least one person was arrested outside the courthouse.
