Overview
U.S. Marine veteran Daniel Penny was acquitted on Monday of charges related to the death of Jordan Neely, whom he restrained during a confrontation on a New York City subway. Penny celebrated the verdict alongside his attorneys in Manhattan, ending a trial marked by contentious claims and widespread public attention.
Why It Matters
This case highlights concerns over self-defense rights and the challenges faced by individuals intervening to protect public safety.
Who It Impacts
The outcome affects citizens’ confidence in self-defense laws, particularly in urban settings where public safety remains a pressing issue.
Full Article
U.S. Marine veteran Daniel Penny, 26, was acquitted on Monday of criminally negligent homicide charges in the death of Jordan Neely. The case stemmed from an incident last year when Penny restrained Neely on a New York City subway after witnesses reported Neely threatening passengers. Penny’s defense argued that his actions were intended to protect others, and a jury ultimately found him not guilty after a week of deliberations.
Penny and his attorneys, Thomas Kenniff and Steven Raiser, celebrated the verdict at a Manhattan bar, where Penny appeared relieved but declined to speak at length to reporters. Smiling patrons took photos of Penny, who responded briefly to reporters, saying he was doing “great.” The celebration followed a trial that Penny’s defense team described as emotionally taxing despite their confidence in his innocence. “We savor the victory, but all the harm that has been done to him just doesn’t vanish,” said Kenniff, emphasizing the long-term impact of the ordeal on Penny’s life.
The trial featured intense moments, including accusations by the prosecution suggesting Penny’s actions were racially motivated—claims he visibly rejected by shaking his head in court. After the jury delivered its not guilty verdict, Penny locked eyes with jurors and offered a nod and smile. The trial also included controversial decisions, such as Judge Maxwell Wiley’s dismissal of a second-degree manslaughter charge mid-deliberation, leaving only the lesser charge of criminally negligent homicide for the jury to consider.
The verdict sparked emotional reactions on both sides. Neely’s father, Andre Zachery, reacted angrily to an individual who applauded in the courtroom, while outside the courthouse, Hawk Newsome, co-founder of Black Lives Matter of Greater New York, issued inflammatory remarks directed at Penny. Newsome also made a public call for “black vigilantes,” intensifying the already heated atmosphere surrounding the case.
The Penny case has drawn attention to issues of public safety, self-defense, and legal protections for individuals who intervene in volatile situations.
