For days, protesters in Manhattan have called for the arrest of the 24-year-old former Marine who, according to video footage and testimony, strangled Jordan Neely and caused his death.
The 24-year-old was questioned by police later that afternoon but was released without being charged with a crime. On Thursday, the New York district attorney announces that the 24-year-old will be charged with a crime. He is expected to appear in court on Friday.
He is now suspected of “second degree manslaughter”, which in Sweden can be compared to grossly causing the death of another or possibly murder.
Jordan Neely’s death has attracted widespread attention in New York and led to calls for legal action. The fact that the police did not arrest the 24-year-old earlier has led to sharp criticism of the authority, which is accused of acting racist – the 24-year-old is white and Neely is black.
30-year-old Jordan Neely got on the subway at the Broadway-Lafayette station in Manhattan at 2:27 p.m. on May 1. Witnesses have said that Neely acted “aggressively” towards other passengers, shouting that he was exhausted, hungry and “tired of not having anything”.
It is at this stage that a 24-year-old man approaches Neely from behind and makes a sudden chokehold on him. They both fall to the ground, Neely still with the 24-year-old’s arm around his neck, and remain on the subway floor for at least seven minutes, according to Juan Alberto Vazquez , a witness who filmed parts of the incident.
It is not certain how long the 24-year-old held Neely down – witnesses say it could have been as long as 15 minutes – but when police arrived at the scene, the 30-year-old was lifeless. He was later pronounced dead in hospital. The cause of death was “hard pressure” to the neck, according to an initial forensic examination.
The White House on Tuesday called for a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding Neely’s death.
“Jordan Neely’s death was tragic and deeply upsetting. Our thoughts go out to his family and friends,” White House spokeswoman Robyn Patterson said in a statement at the time.
The statement was appropriately made just days before US President Joe Biden was to fly to New York for a campaign rally as the Democratic presidential candidate.
Jordan Neely’s death has sparked major protests in New York.
The 24-year-old’s lawyer, Thomas Kenniff, claims Neely has a history of violent and erratic behavior as a result of untreated mental illness. In a written statement , he defends his client, saying the 24-year-old “never intended to harm Neely.”
Jordan Neely was a dancer and actor and known to New Yorkers for his impersonation of Michael Jackson. On the subway, he felt happy and free to perform, his friends have said
