A crowdfunding effort for Daniel Penny, a former Marine charged with killing homeless subway performer Jordan Neely on a New York City subway in May, has raised nearly $3 million for legal defense.
Penny pleaded not guilty to charges of manslaughter and negligent homicide after putting Neely, who was yelling on the subway, in a chokehold until Neely was dead. As of Tuesday morning, a GiveSendGo fund raised by Penney's legal team had collected more than $2.9 million, The Hill reported.
Penny's lawyers say on the GiveSendGo page that any money left over after paying Penny's legal fees will be donated to New York mental health charities.
Neely, who had been struggling with homelessness and mental health issues, was shouting to others on the subway that he needed food and he was "fed up."
"I don't have food. I don't have a drink. I am fed up," Neely was shouting, according to a video of the incident. "I don't care if I go to jail, and if they give me life in prison … I am ready to die."
Penny's attorneys said he had no intent to hurt Neely, but Neely's family has called for the former Marine to go to prison.
Penny is scheduled to return to court Oct. 25.
Sandy Fitzgerald ✉
Sandy Fitzgerald has more than three decades in journalism and serves as a general assignment writer for Newsmax covering news, media, and politics.
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