The death of Jordan Neely, a well-known Michael Jackson impersonator in Times Square
A controversy in New York City Subway as a video of him being held in a chokehold by a Marine veteran, Daniel Penny, and later dying circulated on social media
Neely had reportedly been “acting erratically” on the subway and had been shouting about being “fed up and hungry” and “tired of having nothing”. Although he did not harm anyone or have any weapons, Penny put him in a chokehold, and Neely lost consciousness. He was taken to a nearby hospital and pronounced dead. It is unclear how long Neely was restrained.
The incident has led to protests and calls for justice from officials and the community
The Manhattan District Attorney’s Office is conducting a rigorous investigation into the case, and the lack of criminal charges has fueled demands for legal action. This incident highlights the ongoing issue of homelessness and mental health on New York City subways. Mayor Eric Adams launched an initiative to combat these issues in the subway system more than a year ago, including adding more behavioral health emergency assistance teams.
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