Marine could face charges in Jordan Neely chokehold case

NYPD detectives and Manhattan prosecutors convened on Thursday to discuss the possibility of filing criminal charges against a Marine veteran implicated in the caught-on-video chokehold death of a mentally-ill Michael Jackson impersonator, according to police sources. Although no charges have been filed yet, detectives and members of the Manhattan District Attorney's office engaged in heated debates on whether to arrest the Marine for the death of 30-year-old Jordan Neely. Neely, who was a regular sight around Times Square and on subways as the King of Pop, died after a former U.S. Marine put him in a chokehold on a New York City subway on Monday, May 1, 2023.

In addition to the discussions surrounding criminal charges, a war of words erupted between city political leaders. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez labeled Neely's death a "public murder," while Rev. Al Sharpton compared the Marine's actions to notorious subway gunman Bernie Goetz, who shot four Black youths in 1984. Sharpton emphasized that vigilantism cannot be tolerated now, just as it was not acceptable then.

The city Medical Examiner determined Wednesday that Neely's cause of death was compressions to the neck during a brawl with the Marine on a Manhattan F train. Witnesses told police that Neely had been yelling and throwing garbage at passengers before the Marine intervened, putting Neely in a chokehold and attempting to restrain him. A video of the altercation shows Neely struggling with the ex-Marine, who has his left arm around Neely's neck. Eventually, a second man helps restrain Neely, who kicks his legs until he stops moving about two minutes into the video.

Protesters gathered to chant at a vigil in the Broadway-Lafayette subway station where the incident took place. Tensions between demonstrators and police escalated as activists chanted slogans demanding justice for Neely. Mayor Adams, commenting on city Comptroller Brad Lander's assertion that Neely's death should not go without consequences, called the remark "irresponsible," adding that there were serious mental health issues at play which the Adams administration is addressing.

AOC criticized Adams' response, saying, "This honestly feels like a new low: not being able to clearly condemn a public murder because the victim was of a social status some would deem 'too low' to care about." The Manhattan DA's office called the investigation into Neely's death a "solemn and serious matter," stating that they will review the Medical Examiner’s report, available video and photo footage, interview witnesses, and obtain additional medical records. Neely had a documented mental health history with the NYPD, having been arrested 42 times in the last decade, with the most recent arrest occurring in November 2021 for allegedly punching a 67-year-old woman.