Golf legend Phil Mickelson speaks out in support of Daniel Penny: Thank you, Daniel for protecting the passengers

Famed golfer Phil Mickelson spoke out on Friday in support of Marine veteran Daniel Penny, who is currently on trial for the death of Jordan Neely on a New York subway train, thanking him for protecting the lives of the srraphangera in May of 2023.

Mickelson wrote in response to Trending Politics co-owner Collin Rugg, who said that Penny is a "model citizen" who "should be praised" by New York citizens, "Agree. Thank you Daniel for serving your country and for protecting the many passengers whose lives were threatened by this violent and deranged individual."

On Friday the jury delivered two notes to the judge declaring that they were unable to reach a unanimous verdict after four days of deliberation on the first count, second-degree manslaughter. Judge Maxwell Wiley that evening granted a request from the prosecution to drop the first charge, and ordered the jurors to return on Monday to deliberate the second, lesser count, criminally negligent homicide.

Witnesses who spoke at the trial described the fear they felt when Neely entered the subway car that day, saying that he was "trying to attack everybody" before Penny stepped in.

18-year-old Moriela Sanchez said in a 911 call played, "He’s trying to attack everybody.” She described the attacker as black and that “There’s one white man holding him down, holding the homeless guy down." She began to cry when asked by Penny’s lawyer whether Neely’s behavior scared her, and she said that she was relieved when Penny took down Neely. Sanchez’s friend Ivette Rosario, who took video of the incident on her cell phone, testified earlier in the trial that she was “scared” of Neely.

Caedryn Schrunk testified that she thought she was going to die after listening to Neely’s “satanic” rant. She testified that Neely said, "I don’t care if I die. Kill me, lock me up.” She added, “There was a moment where I truly thought I was going to die," and said she was relieved when Penny acted. She also testified that she saw a mother shielding her baby on the train car.