Charges in NYC chokehold death may hinge on ‘reasonableness’

A group of several hundred people protest the death of Jordan Neely, Friday, May 5, 2023, at Washington Square Park in New York. The man who administered the chokehold, Daniel Penny, said through his lawyers Friday that he was only protecting himself after Neely threatened him and other passengers. “Daniel never intended to harm Mr. Neely and could not have foreseen his untimely death,” said his lawyers, Thomas Kenniff and Steven Raiser. Video of the incident shows Penny placing Neely in a chokehold for several minutes. Grima arrived inside the subway car as the chokehold was in progress, and said he was deeply disturbed by the scene.