Questions Remain After New York City Homeless Man Killed While Riding the Subway
A New York City medical examiner’s office has announced that a homeless man who was put in a chokehold while on the subway died by homicide.
The 30-year-old homeless man, who has now been identified as Jordan Neely, was killed Monday afternoon last week while onboard the F train when another passenger put him in a chokehold after he was allegedly yelling and threatening other passengers.
The incident was captured on video and shows a man, who has only been identified as a 24-year-old former U.S. marine putting, Neely in a chokehold. The video, which is nearly four minutes long, shows at least two other subway passengers holding down Neely, while the rest of the train passengers looked on.
Toward the end of the video, another seated bystander can be heard saying, “You got to let him go. My wife is ex-military. You're gonna kill him now.” The man can be seen going limp, and he was later transported to the hospital where he was declared dead.
Although the man who can be seen in the video putting Neelt in a chokehold has not been identified, there has been a swift national outcry after authorities did not arrest him. Both police and prosecutors, however, have launched an investigation into the homicide. On Wednesday afternoon, a spokesperson for Manhattan district attorney Alvin Braggs shared, "This is a solemn and serious matter that ended in the tragic loss of Jordan Neely's life," adding, “As part of our rigorous ongoing investigation, we will review the Medical Examiner’s report, assess all available video and photo footage, identify and interview as many witnesses as possible, and obtain additional medical records.”
Neely is no stranger to the subway. He is most recognized for the Michal Jackson impersonations and performances he regularly put on display while aboard the train.
According to bystander and independent journalist Juan Alberto Vázque, who recorded and reported on the incident, Neeely allegedly said while on the subway, “I don't have food. I don't have a drink. I am fed up,” adding, “Don't care if I go to jail, and if they give me life in prison … I am ready to die.”
The killing has spurred national outcry and protests, particularly among the homeless advocacy groups throughout the city. These advocacy groups highlight how an already vulnerable population is subjected to added harm and brutality because of the anti-homeless sentiment that's slowly growing across the nation. According to a statement from the National Alliance to End Homelessness, the current climate throughout the nation increases "the likelihood of these sorts of tragedies.” Recent data supports this claim with research from the Lancet Public Health Journal reporting that homeless populations are more likely to be victims of violent crimes than individuals in the general population.
Dave Giffen, the executive director of another advocacy group, the Coalition for the Homeless, shared a similar sentiment. "The fact that someone who took the life of a distressed, mentally-ill human being on a subway could be set free without facing any consequences is shocking, and evidences the City's callous indifference to the lives of those who are homeless and psychiatrically unwell," Giffen shared with ABC News.
Neely's family has also come forward with a statement of their own after learning of their loved one’s death. The family explains through their attorney that Neely has long since suffered with mental illness since the age of 14 after his mother was brutally murdered. The family statement explains, "It is a tragedy for all of us to know that Jordan Neely's life was also cut short."
Reports indicate that the man who put Neely in a chokehold has since obtained legal representation but has not issued a statement of his own.
Investigators are currently seeking assistance from the public and individuals who were on the subway and have related footage or other information on the killing. Potential witnesses are asked to contact the Manhattan DA's office or Crime Stoppers.
