$1.3 million raised for Jordan Neely suspect Daniel Penny’s fundraiser.

Man Charged with Manslaughter in Subway Chokehold Death Raises Over $1.3 Million for Legal Defense Fund

Over 28,000 Donors Contribute to GiveSendGo Fundraiser

Attorneys for Daniel Penny, a 24-year-old Marine veteran charged with manslaughter in the chokehold death of Jordan Neely on a New York City subway, have raised over $1.3 million for his legal defense fund. The fundraiser on GiveSendGo, a Christian crowdfunding site, was launched on Tuesday by Penny’s lawyers and has received contributions from over 28,000 donors.

Penny turned himself in on manslaughter charges on Thursday and was released on $100,000 bond, with his passport confiscated. The funds raised will be used to pay for Penny’s legal fees and expenses related to his defense, as well as any future civil lawsuits that may arise.

• Contributions exceeding the necessary amount for Penny’s legal defense will be donated to a mental health advocacy program in New York City.
• Penny’s attorney claimed that his client was unwelcome on GoFundMe, leading to the use of a lesser-known website.
• The GiveSendGo page was temporarily disabled on Saturday due to heavy traffic.

Divided Opinions on the Incident

Jordan Neely, a street artist known for Michael Jackson impersonations, had a history of mental health and drug abuse struggles that led to bouts of homelessness. A freelance journalist aboard the northbound F train witnessed the incident and reported that Neely acted erratically, shouting that he was hungry, thirsty, and had little to live for. He threw trash at other passengers, who moved away uncomfortably.

Penny came up from behind and placed Neely in a chokehold, with two unidentified males aiding in restraining him. The three continued to restrain Neely for several minutes until his lifeless body stopped fighting back. The incident has divided New Yorkers, with hundreds protesting in the days after to demand charges against Penny and others.

Lawyers Claim Self-Defense

Penny’s lawyers released a statement claiming that their client was not acting in pursuit of harming Neely, but instead to protect himself and others from an erratic man having a mental health episode. They stated that when Neely began aggressively threatening Penny and other passengers, Penny acted to protect themselves until help arrived. They also claimed that Penny never intended to harm Neely and could not have foreseen his untimely death.

The explanation was not sufficient for civil rights icon Rev. Al Sharpton, who called for all involved to be brought in front of a grand jury. He stated that failing to prosecute Penny would set a standard of vigilantism that cannot be tolerated and would be a threat to all of us.

Regardless of opinions, the incident is a tragic reminder of the importance of mental health advocacy and the need for peaceful conflict resolution.

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