‘Justice was done’: Daniel Penny found not guilty of negligent homicide

Former Marine Daniel Penny has been found not guilty of negligent homicide following the chokehold death of Jordan Neely. Penny was formally acquitted of all charges on Monday and was facing up to four years in prison. Following the verdict, Penny was seen smiling and embracing his lawyers, while Neely’s father was escorted out of the courthouse. Penny’s acquittal reverberated across the country, with Vice President-elect JD Vance celebrating the jury’s verdict. “I have not said much about this case out of fear of (negatively) influencing the jury,” Vance wrote. “But thank God justice was done in this case. It was a scandal Penny was ever prosecuted in the first place.” In May 2023, Neely threatened passengers on a crowded subway train, leading to him being put in a chokehold by Penny.