The New York City Police Department (NYPD) released body camera footage of officers and medical workers assisting Jordan Neely, a homeless subway passenger who was allegedly strangled by former U.S. Marine Daniel Penny with a strap hanger. It showed Neely had a detectable pulse.
of video The remarks were made public Friday in Manhattan Supreme Court as Penny’s trial begins, nearly 18 months after the May 1, 2023, incident, the New York Post reported. reported.
If Penny, 26, is convicted of manslaughter, he could be sentenced to up to 15 years in prison. He has maintained his innocence and said his actions were not racially motivated. Black Lives Matter (BLM) protesters reportedly demanded Penney’s conviction as he headed to court. (Related: Daniel Penny’s lawyer explains why he’s optimistic Manhattan jury will ‘not right racial wrongs’ in his case)
Video shows New York City police officers rushing to the Broadway-Lafayette subway station in the NoHo neighborhood of lower Manhattan. A witness identifies Penny and Penny comes forward. In response to a police officer’s question about whether Neely was armed, Penny replied: I just kicked him out,” he said, squeezing his arm to make it look like he was making an X sign.
“Do you have a pulse or no pulse?” the police officer asks.
“I can feel the pulse,” replies another.
“Is he breathing right?” another officer asks.
A medic was then seen performing chest compressions on Neeley as bystanders watched.
“He’s unconscious now and not breathing,” says another.
NYPD Officer Teodoro Tejada was the first to testify, the New York Post reported. Tejada said in court that Neely had a “weak pulse,” but officers were unable to find one after several minutes. He reportedly searched Neely for a possible weapon, but only found a muffin in Neely’s pocket.
Neely’s father, Andre Zachery, wept as he watched the video in court, the New York Post reported.
Two other New York City police officers and a New York City Transit Authority employee also reportedly testified.
One officer said the police team did not perform mouth-to-mouth resuscitation because Mr Neely was “obviously a drug user” and when he regained consciousness he was “very dirty” and “would have been vomiting”. The Daily Mail reported. reported. The NYPD sergeant also claimed that officers were at risk of contracting hepatitis.
Officers also reportedly used a defibrillator and administered a shot of the opioid antagonist Narcan.
Penny’s defense argued that Neely’s autopsy report revealed the presence of K2, a synthetic marijuana drug, in her system.
According to the New York Post, Penny’s attorney, Thomas Kenniff, said in his opening remarks, “This is a case about a young man who did for others what we would want others to do for him.” insisted. reported.
A “crazed psychopath”, Neely demanded food and money from his fellow riders, threatened to kill them, and spoke of going to Rikers Island and life in prison. Kenniff claimed the message caused fear and panic among the riders on the bench, including mothers who huddled behind them to protect their children. Penny’s response: “There’s no need to make him a hero…” [but] That doesn’t make him a murderer,” Kenniff argued.
Manhattan Assistant District Attorney Daphna Yoran told jurors that Penny “did not recognize Mr. Neely’s humanity and was so reckless with Mr. Neely’s life,” adding that Penny “voluntarily took Mr. Neely’s life.” He said the attempt to bring down the government had gone “too far.” Yoran added that he would be incapacitated with a “deadly chokehold” lasting about six minutes.
“Literally, he went for the jugular,” Yoran claimed of Penny.
Neely’s family attorney Donte Mills argued that Penny used her training to kill Neely rather than save her.
Neely, 30, was a subway busker and Michael Jackson impersonator who was reportedly homeless and mentally ill. His death sparked protests by BLM supporters. New York City police discover Molotov cocktail Eleven protesters were arrested at one protest.
