As cheers broke out in a New York City courtroom Monday over the acquittal of Daniel Penny, the father of Jordan Neely had to be removed.
Andre Zachary exploded in expletives, prompting his removal, according to CNN.
On Monday, a jury acquitted Penny of a charge of criminally negligent homicide in the death of Neely, a mentally troubled man whose threatening behavior on board a New York City subway in May 2023 led to a confrontation with Penny that ended with Neely dead.
Applause broke out in the courtroom as Daniel Penny’s not guilty verdict was read. Penny locked eyes with members of the jury, smiled and nodded thanks. Jordan Neely’s father was escorted out of the courtroom after an audible outburst with expletives.
— Faith M. Karimi (@FaithMKarimi) December 9, 2024
On Friday, Judge Maxwell Wiley dismissed a manslaughter charge against Penny after the jury said it was deadlocked on the charge.
Zachary, who filed a civil suit against Penny seeking unspecified damages, was not involved in the life of his son, who went into foster care at age 14, as noted by The Guardian.
There was applause in the courtroom as Daniel Penny’s not guilty verdict was read aloud, reports @Lauren_delvalle. Jordan Neely’s father, who was present in the courtroom for the verdict, was escorted out of the courtroom after an audible outburst with expletives.
— Omar Jimenez (@OmarJimenez) December 9, 2024
Was Daniel Penny wrongly charged?
Many cheered the verdict in the highly publicized case.
“It’s a great day for our city and our nation. Justice has truly been served and we all feel the tide turning now. Today the jury decided that the woke mob is no longer the arbiter of right and wrong,” Republican New York City Council Member Inna Vernikov of Brooklyn said, according to the New York Post.
“I’m sure that DA Alvin Bragg will be more than eager to prosecute anyone rioting in light of this verdict as swiftly and harshly as he did to Daniel Penny!” Vernikov said.
During the trial, Penny’s attorney said Penny put Neely in a chokehold to prevent possible attacks on fellow subway passengers.
“Who do you want on the next train ride with you?” Steven Raiser said in court, according to the New York Post.
“The guy with the earbuds minding his own business who you know would be there for you if something happened? Or perhaps you just hope that someone like Jordan Neely does not enter that train when you are all alone, all alone in a crowd of others frozen with fear?” he said.
Hawk Newsome of BLM threatens Daniel Penny after acquittal: “a small world, buddy.”
Walter “Hawk” Newsome co-founded Black Lives Matter of Greater New York.
When will BLM be designated a hate group? pic.twitter.com/HcxXnMBqzB— Lauren Marie (@LaurenMH625) December 9, 2024
The case of a white man putting a black man in a chokehold turned into a divisive racial episode, with Black Lives Matter protesters outside the courtroom calling for Penny to be convicted, according to The New York Times.
Hawk Newsome, a co-founder of BLM Greater New York had some threatening words for Penny on Monday after the verdict.
“It’s a small world, buddy,” he said.
Advertise with The Western Journal and reach millions of highly engaged readers, while supporting our work. Advertise Today.