Christian crowdfunding website, GiveSendGo, raises over $400,000 for Daniel Penny, the ex-Marine accused of choking homeless subway rider Jordan Neely to death earlier this month.
Penny, 24, turned himself in Friday and was later arraigned on a single charge of second degree manslaughter. He did not enter a plea and was released on $100,000 bond. Penny was also ordered to surrender any passports within 48 hours. He is due back in court July 17.
The law firm representing Penny in the case, Raiser & Kenniff, P.C., started the campaign to raise funds to cover his legal fees.
The lawyers described Penny as a “college student and decorated Marine veteran” who “protected individuals on a NYC subway train from an assailant who later died.”
“Funds are being raised to pay Mr. Penny’s legal fees incurred from any criminal charges filed and any future civil lawsuits that may arise, as well as expenses related to his defense,” the lawyers wrote.
Video footage of the fatal incident shows Penny with his arm wrapped around Neely’s neck for several minutes until he became unconscious. Neely was pronounced dead at Lenox Health Greenwich Village hospital.
The medical examiner’s office ruled Neely’s death a homicide, but no charges were announced until Thursday.
Penny’s lawyers recently released a statement arguing that he acted in self-defense, according to The Independent.
“When Mr Neely began aggressively threatening Daniel Penny and the other passengers, Daniel, with the help of others, acted to protect themselves, until help arrived,” the lawyers said. “Daniel never intended to harm Mr Neely and could not have foreseen his untimely death.”
Some witnesses reportedly told police that Neely, who was homeless and had a documented mental health history, began yelling on the train that he was hungry, thirsty and had little to live for. Witnesses also say they observed Neely making threats but not to Penny or anyone in particular before the ex-Marine intervened, ABC News reported.
Penny’s lawyers say excess funds raised from the campaign will be donated to a mental health advocacy program in New York City.
