(AmericanProsperity.com) – Justice has prevailed, as just moments ago, former United States Marine Daniel Penny was found not guilty of all charges in the death of Jordan Neely on a New York City subway.
The jury’s verdict confirmed that Penny acted to protect fellow passengers from a threatening situation.
After nearly 20 hours of deliberation over four days, a Manhattan jury found Penny not guilty of criminally negligent homicide in Neely’s chokehold death.
The charge could have sent Penny to prison for up to four years. Still, the jury decided that Penny’s actions were justified in the face of a dangerous and unpredictable situation.
Penny stepped in when Neely, a mentally ill individual, began threatening passengers on the subway.
Neely had a history of arrests and was diagnosed with schizophrenia. An autopsy revealed there was synthetic marijuana (K2) in Neely’s system.
Witnesses described Neely’s aggressive and menacing conduct, which left many fearing for their safety.
Penny’s military training and quick thinking likely prevented a potentially violent incident from escalating.
“This case is about a broken system, a broken system that does not help our mentally ill or our unhoused. In fact, it is that broken system that led us, that is interwoven into the very fabric of this case,” Penny’s attorney, Steven Raiser, said.
Throughout the trial, Penny’s defense team argued that the former Marine acted to protect his fellow passengers.
“I’m not trying to kill the guy, I’m just trying to keep him from hurting anybody else,” Daniel testified.
Although the prosecution attempted to paint Penny’s actions as criminal, the jury saw through this narrative.
The fact that Neely was not armed and only had a muffin in his pocket does not negate the real threat he posed to others on the train.
Penny’s intentions were to de-escalate a volatile situation and protect innocent lives.
His acquittal serves as a reminder that our justice system can distinguish between heroic actions and criminal behavior when allowed to function properly.
Copyright 2024, AmericanProsperity.com
