Daniel Penny Indicted by Grand Jury

A man has been indicted by a grand jury on charges of manslaughter for using a chokehold on a distressed subway rider in New York City, resulting in the rider’s death. This expected procedural step allows the criminal case to move forward towards trial. The defendant, Daniel Penny, was charged by Manhattan prosecutors last month in the death of Jordan Neely, a former Michael Jackson impersonator who had been struggling with homelessness and mental illness. Although grand jury proceedings are confidential and no comment was given by spokesman for Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, New York City Mayor Eric Adams confirmed the indictment.

“I expressed my confidence in the judicial process when charges were first brought, and now that Daniel Penny has been indicted by the Grand Jury, a trial and the pursuit of justice can progress,” stated Mayor Adams. Penny’s defense lawyers, Steven Raiser and Thomas Kenniff, released a statement emphasizing that Penny’s intention was not to kill Neely, but rather to restrain him until police arrived. “While we acknowledge the grand jury’s decision to proceed to trial, it should be noted that the standard of proof in a grand jury is minimal, and no wrongdoing has been determined. We strongly believe that when a trial jury evaluates the evidence, they will find that Daniel Penny’s actions on that train were completely justified,” Raiser stated.

Penny, who is 24 years old, was released on $100,000 bond after his arraignment on May 12. He will need to return to court to be arraigned on the new indictment. Penny’s legal defense fund has raised more than $2.8 million, according to his attorneys. Under New York law, a grand jury indictment was necessary for the prosecution to move forward with the case. Attorneys representing Neely’s family released a statement expressing their satisfaction with the indictment of Penny, describing it as the appropriate outcome for the harm he caused, as reported by ABC News.

(Read more Daniel Penny stories.)