Jordan Neely Death: $2M Fund Raised Online for Ex-Marine Daniel Penny's Legal Defense

An online crowdsourcing campaign for the legal defense of former Marine Daniel Penny, charged with second-degree manslaughter concerning the chokehold murder of Jordan Neely on the New York City subway earlier this month, has raised almost $2 million, The Hill noted.

The "GiveSendGo" page set up by Raiser & Kenniff, P.C. for Penny's legal defense had received $1,883,357 in donations as of late Sunday night.

The page was created to cover legal fees from any criminal charges filed, potential civil cases that may occur, and expenses linked to his defense.

The Manhattan District Attorney's office prosecuted and charged Penny last week with second-degree manslaughter after he put Neely, 30, in a chokehold during an encounter on the train.

Neely passed out from the chokehold and was taken to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Some train riders tackled Neely after he yelled at them and reportedly struggled with homelessness and mental illness.

Penny's attorneys, who are white, insist that their client had no malicious intent toward Neely and was only trying to defend himself and his fellow subway riders.

The NYC Subway Chokehold Case

On an F train heading north in Manhattan, an altercation occurred Monday afternoon between former Marine Daniel Penny and Jordan Neely, who reportedly struggled with homelessness and mental illness.

Neely was heard shouting at passengers for money, but there was no evidence of assault.

Approximately 2 minutes and 55 seconds into a captured video, an onlooker recorded Daniel Penny with his arms tightly wrapped around Neely's neck. Two other passengers intervened, restraining Neely by holding onto his arms, according to BBC.

Around two minutes later, a concerned bystander who had boarded the train to await his stop alerted Penny and the others that Neely might be dying, and Penny released his grip on Neely's neck.

A passerby remarked that Neely had defecated on himself, a disturbing indication that his life may be in immediate danger. He threatened Penny with murder charges if he did not release Neely.

As Penny regained his footing, another passenger approached him and commented, "That was one heck of a chokehold, man."

Penny had instructed fellow passengers to call emergency services during the struggle, reports said. As Neely became limp, the video showed Penny placing him in a recovery position.

Freelance journalist Juan Alberto Vazquez, who filmed the incident, stated that Neely had been shouting that he was hungry and thirsty.

"I don't mind going to jail and getting life in prison. I'm ready to die," Neeley reportedly said.

Daniel Penny and Jordan Neely

Daniel Penny, a former Marine charged with second-degree manslaughter in connection with the recent chokehold death of Jordan Neely on a New York City subway train, has garnered support from right-wing political figures and organizations since his arrest on Friday.

While Penny's political views remain unknown, several conservative groups and political figures have embraced his case, New York Times reported.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, a possible Republican presidential candidate, has compared Penny to the biblical figure of the good Samaritan to encourage his supporters to donate to Penny's legal defense fund.

Republican Representative Matt Gaetz has dubbed Penny "Subway Superman."

Turning Point USA leader Charlie Kirk and former President Donald J. Trump's lawyer Jenna Ellis are among the right-wing figures who have come to Penny's defense.

Jordan Neely, who was suffering from mental illness and was homeless, was on the Top 50 - a list that records individuals who, among eight million, stand out for the severity of their troubles and their resistance to accepting help.

The list is maintained by a task force comprising city agency employees and social-service nonprofits.

Homeless-outreach workers must inform the city and arrange for them to stay in a shelter if they come across someone on the list.

Despite having an outstanding arrest warrant, Neely was shouting at passengers on the subway on May 1 before being involved in an altercation that led to his death.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Bert Hoover

WATCH: See moment Daniel Penny surrenders to police after chokehold death of Jordan Neely - From CNN