Mayor Eric Adams defends Daniel Penny in subway chokehold case, slams media scolds trying to prosecute him in the press

Adams spoke former gubernatorial candidate as well as radio host Rob Astorino, per the Daily Wire, when he made the comments defending Penny. “We’re now on the subway where we’re hearing someone talking about hurting people, killing people,” Adams stated. “You have someone [Penny] on that subway who was responding, doing what we should have done as a city."

He added, "Those passengers were afraid." Eye witnesses testified that Neely was threatening those on the train before Penny intervened, restraining Neely by putting him in a chokehold.

Adams, who has taken more of a moderate approach to messaging as of late, later commented on the mental health crisis in the city, “Then you look at the complete failure of our mental health system, a complete failure from the days of closing psychiatric wards and having those who needed help just turned over into the street without giving any safety net to accept them."

“Look at the photo that they used to show the victim,” Adams said of the media's portrayal of Neely in criticism. “It seemed like it was a young innocent child who was brutally murdered, and it gave that impression when you look at the photo that was being used. It wanted to set up in the minds of people that we were dealing with a young innocent child that was, you know, just a Michael Jackson [impersonator]."

When police arrived on the scene, Penny released Neely, who was found still alive, with a pulse. Officers said they did not attempt to resuscitate him over fears they would contract hepatitis. Witnesses also said that Neely had soiled pants and that women were sheltering their children from him as he made threats and ranted.

Penny has been charged with second-degree manslaughter as well a criminally negligent homicide in the case and is facing 15 years in prison.