MANHATTAN, NEW YORK CITY: The Internet was filled with mixed reactions after several subway passengers came forward to describe Jordan Neely's "sickening" and "satanic" behavior moments before former US Marine Daniel Penny placed him in a chokehold.
The 24-year-old Penny has been indicted on second-degree manslaughter and criminally negligent homicide in the murder of Neely, a former Michael Jackson impersonator who was shouting and begging for money on the Manhattan train on May 1.
Neely, who had a long history of mental health problems, was allegedly throwing garbage at riders and was yelling for money when Penny pinned him on the ground with two co-passengers and held him in a chokehold until he lost consciousness.
Penny previously stated that he didn't intend to kill Neely but felt compelled to protect the other passengers since he was threatening people when they attempted to flee.
The chokehold killing, which was caught by a bystander on video, has sparked intense controversy, with some hailing Penny as a Good Samaritan and others accusing him of racial vigilantism.
What did subway passengers say about Jordan Neely’s behavior?
Daniel Penny's defense attorneys recently filed a new motion seeking to dismiss the charges brought against him, according to the New York Post.
In the filing, the lawyers cited testimony from witnesses on the train at the time who said they feared for their lives.
"As the car doors were closing, an irate Jordan Neely entered the subway car and immediately made his presence felt," read the document, adding that he threw his jacket across the train while complaining that he had no money or food.
One witness told the grand jury that Neely was "insanely threatening" and spoke with a "sickening" and "satanic" bent, ranting that "someone is going to die today" and that he was "ready to go to Rikers."
The witness "believed he was going to die as Neely began approaching him," further stated the court document.
"He described the moment as ‘absolutely traumatizing’ beyond anything he had ever experienced in six years riding the subway," noted the lawyers.
Another witness, who was there with her little son, informed the grand jury that Neely had stated his desire to cause harm to others. "I want to go to Rikers, I want to go to prison," she recalled him saying, adding that her nervous son asked her why the man would want to be jailed.
“Mother and son took cover behind her son’s stroller, shielding themselves from Neely, who was now making ‘half-lunge movements’ and coming within a ‘half a foot of people,” the attorneys wrote.
Another witness, who was commuting from her high school, said she put her hand on her classmate's chest and began "praying their doors would open" the moment Neely said someone would die.
A new witness, this time a retiree who has been riding the subway for more than three decades, told the grand jury that she had never been more terrified.
She testified, "I have encountered many things, but nothing that put fear into me like that."
Internet remains divided over Daniel Penny’s decision to chokehold Jordan Neely
After the witness’ testimony surfaced on social media, many netizens came forward to support Daniel Penny, while others slammed him for killing the homeless man.
"How could an agent, police, not know when is applying unnecessary force? And while doing so, he/she would know to check on the person. So unfortunate," wrote one.
Another termed him a "He’s a hero," while a user asserted, "I understand the fear and that he was actually very dangerous but the issue is why, after subduing the man, didn't the military guy loosen his hold? Especially since there were numerous people helping him and holding the man's arms and legs so he couldn't go anywhere."
"yeah none of that warrants a lynching," said one more, while someone else expressed, "We still need heroes these days. That kid was a hero."
