Daniel Penny will face manslaughter charges for his role in the death of homeless Michael Jackson impersonator Jordan Neely, according to a new statement from the office of Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg.
“We can confirm that Daniel Penny will be arrested on a charge of manslaughter in the second degree. We cannot provide any additional information until he has been arraigned in Manhattan Criminal Court, which we expect to take place [on Friday],” the DA’s office told the press on Thursday.
Penny first drew attention as the then-unnamed man in an incident which occurred on May 1, which culminated in him holding recidivist criminal Jordan Neely in a chokehold with assistance from other passengers.
Witnesses reported Neely behaving erratically, making professions about his willingness to hurt others and go to prison, and in footage which has emerged subsequent to the initial reports of the incident, Penny is seen placing Neely in a recovery position in order to prevent the latter from choking on his own vomit.
The news of the decision from Bragg’s office came as a surprise for many observers, most of whom expected the DA’s office to await the conclusion of the grand jury which was reportedly planned as of May 5. With the new announcement, the Soros-supported DA has taken an unexpected degree of ownership of the case against Daniel Penny, exposing him to criticism from New Yorkers who are sympathetic to Penny in light of the circumstances.
“It is stunning that they would make an arrest before presenting this to a grand jury,” former Manhattan prosecutor Mark Bederow told the New York Post. “Bragg made a political call: he now owns this.”
Penny is expected to turn himself in for arrest at the NYPD Fifth Precinct stationhouse in Chinatown on Friday morning. He will then be arraigned in Manhattan Criminal Court.
Scroll down to leave a comment and share your thoughts.
