Jordan Neely

Jordan Neely was a New York City street performer and unhoused man who died on 1 May 2023 after being placed in a chokehold aboard a subway train in Manhattan.

Jordan Neely was a New York City street performer and unhoused man who died on 1 May 2023 after being placed in a chokehold aboard a subway train in Manhattan. The city medical examiner ruled the death a homicide caused by neck compression, and the case drew widespread public attention, protests, and criminal charges against Daniel Penny.

Background

Jordan Neely was described in reports as a homeless street performer and busker in New York City. Coverage also noted that he had a history of mental health struggles and public hardship.

Death on the subway

On 1 May 2023, Neely was involved in an altercation aboard a Manhattan subway train and was placed in a chokehold by another rider, Daniel Penny. Neely was later pronounced dead at a hospital after emergency responders attempted to revive him.

Medical and legal findings

The city medical examiner determined the death was a homicide caused by compression of the neck. Prosecutors later brought criminal charges against Penny, and subsequent trial coverage reported a not-guilty verdict.

Public reaction

Neely's death drew major media attention, protests, and discussion about race, public safety, homelessness, and mental illness in New York City. The case became a prominent example in broader debates over bystander intervention and subway violence.