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NYC Mayor Eric Adams is speaking out in support of ex-Marine Daniel Penny, charged in the 2023 subway death of Jordan Neely, who allegedly threatened passengers and had a history of mental health issues and a criminal record.
Adams spoke to former New York gubernatorial candidate and radio host Rob Astorino about Neely’s threatening behavior and Penny’s bravery: “We’re now on the subway where we’re hearing someone talking about hurting people, killing people. You have someone [Penny] on that subway who was responding, doing what we should have done as a city. Those passengers were afraid.”
He also accused the media of downplaying Jordan Neely’s alleged threats by focusing on images of him as a young Michael Jackson impersonator, stating: “Look at the photo that they used to show the victim. It seemed like it was a young innocent child who was brutally murdered, and it gave that impression when you look at the photo that was being used. It wanted to set up in the minds of people that we were dealing with a young innocent child that was, you know, just a Michael Jackson [impersonator].”
Neely, who had a criminal record and mental health issues, reportedly threatened subway passengers, expressing a willingness to die or go to prison. An autopsy revealed he had K2, a synthetic drug linked to psychosis, in his system at the time of his death.
The mayor also spoke on the mental health crisis in NYC: “Then you look at the complete failure of our mental health system, a complete failure from the days of closing psychiatric wards and having those who needed help just turned over into the street without giving any safety net to accept them.”
Penny faces charges of second-degree manslaughter and criminally negligent homicide in Neely’s death, with a potential 15-year sentence as jury deliberations begin next week.
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