(LibertySociety.com) – New York City Mayor Eric Adams has voiced support for former U.S. Marine Daniel Penny, who faces criminal charges in the death of Jordan Neely during a subway altercation. Penny, charged with second-degree manslaughter and criminally negligent homicide, restrained Neely after the latter allegedly threatened passengers.
Adams characterized Penny’s actions as a reaction to broader systemic failures. “You have someone on that subway who was responding, doing what we should have done as a city,” Adams said, emphasizing that Neely’s reported behavior—threats and erratic conduct—had genuinely frightened passengers.
The mayor also criticized media coverage of the incident, particularly the portrayal of Neely. He noted that many outlets used photos of Neely as a young Michael Jackson impersonator, which he argued created a misleadingly sympathetic narrative. “This individual had a lengthy criminal record and a history of threatening behavior,” Adams said, calling for more balanced reporting of the events.
Adams connected the tragedy to long-standing systemic mental health issues, highlighting the city’s failure to support individuals like Neely. He pointed to the closure of psychiatric wards and insufficient safety nets for vulnerable populations as root causes. Defending his controversial 2022 policy to involuntarily hospitalize severely mentally ill individuals, Adams described it as a proactive step to prevent similar incidents.
Reports indicate that Neely, allegedly under the influence of drugs such as K2 during the altercation, had a documented history of violent outbursts. He was accused of threatening subway passengers in the past. Penny’s defense team maintains that his actions were in self-defense, while prosecutors argue that his response was excessive.
Adams’s comments have sparked broader discussions about public safety, mental health, and media representation. As jury deliberations in Penny’s trial approach, the case has become a flashpoint for national debates about self-defense and systemic breakdowns. Adams’s remarks reflect the complexities of an incident that has captured the nation’s attention, highlighting the intersection of individual actions, societal failures, and public perceptions.
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