Protests over Jordan Neely’s death on the subway turn violent near Broadway-Lafayette station
Protests against the murder of homeless schizophrenic Jordan Neely on the New York City subway turned violent Monday night, with a protester pictured being restrained by police with blood streaming down his face.
Neely, 30, was killed on May 1 when, while ranting and throwing trash at subway passengers, he was choked by a 24-year-old former Marine, Daniel Penny.
Neely’s death was ruled a homicide last week and the Neely family is calling for Penny to be prosecuted. The Manhattan district attorney is considering filing charges.
On Monday, protesters calling for justice for Neely took to the streets again and gathered near the Broadway-Lafayette station in lower Manhattan, where Neely was killed.
A protester calling for justice for Jordan Neely is wrestled to the ground by the NYPD on Monday night
The demonstrator had blood streaming over his head from a wound on his forehead
The protester is led away from the scene on Monday by members of the NYPD
A well-known photographer, Stephanie Keith, whose work has appeared in The New York Times, Reuters and Getty, was arrested.
A protester was wrestled to the ground as blood gushed from a wound on his head.
Several others were pushed to the ground – a shirtless man had a police officer kneeling on his chest.
The NYPD has yet to confirm how many arrests have been made, when asked by DailyMail.com.
Others marched with their fists up, waving the black liberation flag and wearing t-shirts that read, “F*** the mayor.”
Eric Adams, a former NYPD officer who, like Neely, is black, has called for restraint and urged protesters to give the Manhattan district attorney’s office time to fully investigate.
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a congresswoman representing New York City, has called Neely’s death a “public execution,” much to the anger of the mayor.
On Monday, it turned out that numerous panicked bystanders called 911 when Penny struggled with Neely.
Stephanie Keith, a well-known NYC photographer whose work has appeared in The New York Times, Reuters and Getty, was arrested Monday
Keith was taking pictures at the protest when the NYPD stopped her
The photographer is led away by the NYPD
A shirtless man is stopped by cops
Several police officers restrained the man during the protests in Lower Manhattan
A person holds up a shirt showing Neely’s face. He was known around town as a Michael Jackson impersonator
The police struggle with a demonstrator on Monday evening
The protester is knocked to the ground and detained
An activist holds a candle with his face covered as he confronts police on Monday night
Protesters with the black liberation flag sent a message to Eric Adams, who urged the city to wait for a full investigation before demanding that Daniel Penny be prosecuted
The New York Police Department received the first report of a fight on the F train at 2:25 p.m. on May 1, with another report coming in a minute later.
At 2:27 p.m., two more calls came in – one telling of “threats” on the train and the other describing a rider who was “armed with a knife or gun.”
At 2:29 pm a call was placed reporting that an attack was underway, and at 2:30 pm a second call was made reporting that someone was making threats on the F train.
According to Fox newsthose calls were just a “summary” of the many calls made to the police during the altercation between Neely and Penny.
The NYPD told DailyMail.com they were “responding to multiple 911 calls” as the incident unfolded at the Broadway-Lafayette Street station.
NYPD officers attempt to revive Jordan Neely as he lies on the floor of an F train on May 1
Officers outside the F train as Neely’s body is readied for transport to a hospital
Police said they arrived at the scene at 2:30pm and began administering CPR to Neely, who had gone limp in Penny’s grasp by then.
The New York Fire Department was called for assistance at 2:39 p.m. and arrived less than ten minutes later at 2:46 p.m.
Neely was then taken to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
A medical examination determined that he died of neck compression.
It remains unclear whether Neely died on the subway, or eventually succumbed to his injuries in hospital.
It also remains unclear what time Penny first put Neely in a chokehold or how long he held him.
Some witnesses have reported that Penny put his arm around Neely’s neck for up to 15 minutes before losing consciousness, according to NBC New York.
Neely, 30, was homeless, schizophrenic and “self-medicating with K2” – a potent synthetic cannabis – before his death, according to members of his family.
Penny, 24, was detained and questioned by police after the incident but was released because he acted in self-defense.
Penny’s lawyers released a statement defending his actions, saying he “couldn’t have foreseen” [Neely’s] untimely death,” noting Neely’s lengthy criminal record that included two incidents of randomly beating strangers on the subway.
A grand jury is expected to convene this week to decide whether to press charges.
After being warned that Neely could die, Penny (left) and the other man who helped restrain him (right) continued to restrain him for several more seconds. He jumped up when Neely stopped responding
Daniel Penny wrestles Jordan Neely on the floor of the F train on May 1
The demonstrators blocked an incoming Q train at the station on Saturday. They are wanted for criminally entering the protest
Protesters on the tracks at a subway station on New York City’s Upper East Side on Saturday
In their statement, Penny’s lawyers said he was trying to protect others from a mentally unstable and unpredictable stranger.
“Earlier this week, Daniel Penny was involved in a tragic incident on the NYC Subway that ended in the death of Jordan Neely.
“First of all, on behalf of Daniel Penny, we would like to express our condolences to Mr. Neely’s loved ones,” the press release began.
Mr. Neely had a documented history of violent and erratic behavior, the apparent result of a persistent and untreated mental illness. When Mr. Neely began aggressively threatening Daniel Penny and the other passengers, Daniel, with the help of others, acted to protect himself, until help arrived. Daniel never intended to harm Mr. Neely.’
“For too long, people with mental illness have been treated indifferently.
“We hope that out of this terrible tragedy comes a new commitment from our elected officials to address the mental health crisis on our streets and subways.”
Neely’s family was not impressed with Penny’s statement and said he belongs in prison.
“Daniel Penny’s press release is not an apology or an expression of regret,” they said.
It’s a character assassination and a clear example of why he believes he had the right to take Jordan’s life.
“He knew nothing about Jordan’s history when he deliberately put his arms around Jordan’s neck and squeezed and kept squeezing.
“His actions on the train and now his words show why he should be in prison.”
They also begged Mayor Eric Adams to contact them.
“The family wants you to know that Jordan matters,” they said.
“You seem to think that others are more important than him. You can’t ‘help’ someone with a stranglehold.’