Phil Mickelson has taken to social media to thank marine veteran Daniel Penny for ‘protecting passengers’ from Jordan Neely, who the LIV Golf star described as ‘deranged’.
Penny faced up to 15 years in prison if convicted of second-degree murder of Neely. The incident involving the pair occurred on May 1, 2023, when Penny held Neely in a chokehold after the latter had allegedly been screaming and threatening passengers on a New York subway.
Neely was allegedly heard crying that he was going to kill someone, while admitting he was ready to go to jail. Penny intervened, placing him in a chokehold which prosecutors are claiming proved fatal.
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Penny was charged criminally, but after four days of deliberations in court, the jury failed to reach a unanimous decision on the manslaughter charge on two occasions. The jurors still need to decide on one charge of criminally negligent homicide. The case is one that has split opinion, and now six-time major champion Mickelson has taken to social media to have his say.
Replying to political commentator Collin Rugg wrote on X, Mickelson said: “Agree. Thank you Daniel for serving your country and for protecting the many passengers whose lives were threatened by this violent and deranged individual.”
The post from Rugg in question, read: “Daniel Penny is a model citizen who should be praised by the city of New York. He is a breed of young men who are becoming less and less common. He puts his own safety at risk to help others. He didn’t cower or pull out his phone to film when Jordan Neely started threatening to k*ll people.
“Instead, he took it upon himself to protect subway passengers. He was praised by the passengers on the train but was ridiculed by the city of New York. He is the citizen that every mayor of every city should want more of. He is the person you hope is around if your loved ones’ lives are being threatened.
“Anyone who is quiet about this injustice lacks moral clarity and should take a long look in the mirror. Daniel Penny is a hero.” The post then drew a response from the HyFlyers captain who sided with Rugg in support of former Marine Penny.
On the back of the jury failing to reach a verdict on two occasions, Judge Maxwell Wiley dismissed the top manslaughter charge. Judge Wiley then went on to inform jurors to continue deliberating on the remaining charge, which is criminally negligent homicide, starting Monday.
The attorney of the Neely family Donte Mills said afterward: “Daniel Penny should go to jail. This should be an easy case for the jury to deliberate. Penny has pled not guilty and denies all charges.
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