Jordan Neely’s family believes New Yorkers should volunteer to help homeless people on trains
Jordan Neely’s family lawyers today told New Yorkers not to shy away from the erratic homeless people on the subway, even if they behave threateningly, and instead say, “Sir, let me help you.”
Neely was homeless, schizophrenic and had a record of 40 arrests, including punching a 67-year-old woman in the face.
On May 1, he screamed that he wanted to kill “a motherf****r” to get a ticket to prison where he would get meals.
Daniel Penny, a 24-year-old Navy veteran, intervened and held him in a chokehold. Neely died on the spot.
Attorney Donte Mills says New Yorkers should reach out to subway homeless people if they’re scared and question why they’re behaving
Jordan Neely’s aunt Mildred and his father Zachary at a press conference today as Daniel Penny was charged with second-degree manslaughter
Penny is headed to Manhattan criminal court today after being charged with manslaughter
Penny is being charged with manslaughter today. The case has proved a lightning rod of debate and debate over whether Penny did the right thing in a city where the subway is a breeding ground for violence and crime
At a press conference, Neely’s family – who say they saw him occasionally before his death – suggested through their lawyers Donte Mills and Lennon Edwards that the frightened passengers should have helped him.
“No one on that train asked Jordan, ‘What’s going on? How can I help you.”
“Instead, he was suffocated to death.
And for anyone who says they get scared on a train and aren’t sure how they would have reacted… ask how you can help. Please. Don’t attack, don’t choke, don’t kill.
“No one said: here sir, let me meet your needs.”
“We disagree with the charge of manslaughter. We think it must be murder.’
The family said Jordan had “a house to come to” but didn’t want to “on bad days.”
The lawyer also said the family had begged psychiatric hospitals to keep Neely in the past because he “wasn’t ready to come home.”
According to witnesses on the subway, Neely had threatened to kill someone because he wanted a ticket to the prison where he would eat regularly
Neely’s mental health had deteriorated dramatically in recent years, according to his family
“He had a house to go to, but he didn’t know how to handle his mental health. There were times when he was in an institution and the family asked them to keep him. He’s not ready to come home yet and they didn’t, they needed the bed so they got him out of there.’
Neely’s father and his aunt refused to answer questions or speak.
“It’s not our job to fool people,” their lawyers said.
Penny faces up to 15 years in prison for second-degree manslaughter.
His lawyers say he does not deserve to be prosecuted and that he was trying to protect others on the train.
A 66-year-old female witness to the incident spoke anonymously The New York Post last night on the eve of Penny’s arraignment to support him.
She said there are more videos of the altercation leading up to the chokehold that she believes will clear Penny of any wrongdoing.
Penny’s lawyers set up the fundraiser when Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg announced charges. It has raised more than $250,000 from more than 5,000 donors
“So I believe those videos will come out, maybe people do it anonymously.
“I hope he has a great lawyer and I pray for him. And I pray that he is treated fairly, I really am.
“Because after all this I went back and made sure to say ‘thank you’ to him.”
She said Neely caused the stranglehold by threatening the entire train and many of them took the threats seriously.
“He said, ‘I don’t care. I’ll take a bullet, I’m going to jail,’ because he would kill people on the train.
“He said, ‘I’d kill an asshole. I do not give a hoot. I’ll take a bullet. I’m going to prison.’
“This gentleman, Mr. Penny, did not get up. Have had no contact with Mr. He didn’t say a word. It was all Mr. Neely threatening the passengers. If he doesn’t get what he wants,’ she said.
Finally Penny got up and pulled him to the ground. Two other men helped subdue him.
Neither has been charged.