Belligerent Homeless Man Dies After Being Put In A Chokehold On NYC Subway, Sparking Outrage And Protests
Jordan Neely had a history of harassing others. He was put in a chokehold by an NYC subway passenger and he died shortly after—he is already being called the next George Floyd.
Nobody can forget the George Floyd controversy on May 25, 2020, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, when he died after a police officer, Derek Chauvin, knelt on his neck for over nine minutes during an arrest. Floyd repeatedly stated that he couldn't breathe, and his death was captured on video by a bystander. The incident sparked widespread protests and civil unrest across the United States and around the world, causing outrage over police brutality and growing claims of systemic racism. Chauvin was later found guilty of second-degree unintentional murder, third-degree murder, and second-degree manslaughter. Another incident has taken place in New York City that is being called the 2023 version of George Floyd.
Belligerent Homeless Man Dies after Being Put in a Chokehold on NYC Subway
A 30-year-old man, identified as Jordan Neely, died on Monday afternoon after being placed in a chokehold by another passenger during a confrontation on a subway train in New York City. Witnesses reported that Neely had been acting erratically and aggressively toward other passengers, prompting a 24-year-old man to intervene and restrain him.
The incident was captured on video by freelance journalist Juan Alberto Vazquez, who later posted the footage on his Facebook page, “Luces de Nueva York.” The video shows Neely flailing his arms and kicking his legs as he tried to break free from the chokehold. Police later took the 24-year-old, who has not been named, into custody for questioning before releasing him without charges. The investigation is ongoing.
Neely is a black man and the 24-year-old who put him in a chokehold is a white veteran, so there is already a narrative of racism coursing through national news. Neely, who was reportedly homeless and had a history of mental health issues, began yelling upon boarding the northbound F train. Vazquez stated that Neely was frightening but had not physically assaulted anyone.
“He started screaming in an aggressive manner,” Vazquez said. “He said he had no food, he had no drink, that he was tired and doesn’t care if he goes to jail. He started screaming all these things, took off his jacket, a black jacket that he had, and threw it on the ground.”
The 24-year-old man brought Neely to the ground and allegedly held him in a chokehold for 15 minutes. When police arrived on the scene, they found Neely unconscious. He was taken to Lenox Health hospital in Greenwich Village, where he was pronounced dead. As of Tuesday, the police had not declared Neely's death a homicide or announced any arrests.
The incident has sparked a debate about the actions of the 24-year-old man, who sources say is a Marine veteran. Vazquez expressed mixed feelings about the situation, stating that he did not believe Neely could die during the encounter. He also questioned the response time of the police, suggesting that the outcome might have been different had they arrived sooner.
The subway confrontation comes amid a rise in ridership and a reported decrease in crime rates on New York City's trains. Major crimes in the subway dropped 16 percent from October 25 to January 22 compared to the same period a year earlier, according to Governor Kathy Hochul and Mayor Eric Adams. The decrease in crime rates coincides with an increase in police presence on the subway following a rise in violence in 2022.
Despite the overall decline in crime, this incident has raised concerns about the safety of subway passengers and the adequacy of mental health services for vulnerable populations. Advocates argue that Neely's death highlights the need for better support systems, including the deployment of social workers in the subway system.
The Manhattan District Attorney's office is investigating the incident, and the cause of Neely's death is pending as authorities await autopsy results. It remains unclear whether the 24-year-old man will face any charges in connection with the confrontation.
A crowd of people already gathered to protest Neely's death yesterday at the Broadway-Lafayette subway station. The crowd is chanting "Black Lives Matter" and "The homeless matter" while police standby with zip ties in their hands. Many commentators are predicting this will be the next George Floyd controversy, resulting in riots and protests across the country.
The news outlets are already trying to paint Neely as a kind, docile person who has never hurt a fly, but it turns out he has quite the history of being arrested many times and harassing numerous people.
Many New Yorkers have come out to say that they recognize the man and have had unpleasant encounters with them.
"This man jumped on me, grabbed my shoulders, and pushed me towards the tracks Sunday night at this very station. I was able to run away but he got physical and chased other people standing on the platform before getting on an uptown train. This whole thing is so sad," a Redditor wrote.
Allegedly, Neely had 40 prior arrests and an active warrant for felony assault. It's also being reported that he previously tried to assault the veteran that put him in a chokehold.