By Daily Mail (U.S.) | Created at 2024-12-07 16:33:43 | Updated at 2024-12-23 14:48:44
2 weeks ago
Golf icon Phil Mickelson has come out in support of Daniel Penny after he took on step closer to freedom on Friday.
Penny, a Marine veteran, was charged with manslaughter for stepping in when Jordan Neely , a mentally ill homeless man, threatened subway passengers on an F train in New York City in May 2023.
The 24-year-old placed Neely, 30, in a chokehold on the train car floor, holding him there until police arrived. The subway performer known for his Michael Jackson impersonations was declared dead in the hospital and Penny was then charged.
A judge dismissed the top manslaughter charge against Penny on Friday and, while he must still return to court to face lesser charges, Mickelson backed him online.
Quote-tweeting a post from a conservative commentator praising Penny as a 'model citizen who should be praised by the city of New York.'
'Thank you Daniel for serving your country and for protecting the many passengers whose lives were threatened by this violent and deranged individual,' the six-time major winner responded.
Golf icon Phil Mickelson (picture) has come out in support of Daniel Penny
Daniel Penny, a Marine veteran, was charged with manslaughter for stepping in when Jordan Neely, a mentally ill homeless man, threatened subway passengers in New York City in May 2023
The six-time major winner praised Penny for 'serving your country' in a social media post
Most golf fans supported Mickelson for his comment with many praising him for taking a stand.
'God bless you Phil!,' one social media replied to Mickelson's post on X, formerly known as Twitter.
'Great job Phil, nice to see someone prominent standing for this brave young man. Kudos to both of you,' another added.
Many thanked Mickelson, as another shared: 'Big shout out to @PhilMickelson.'
'Love ya Phil! Let’s get this hero free,' said another, while one posted: 'Thanks for taking a stand on this, Phil! We need our voices heard.'
'This is the way, Phil. Thank you for making your voice heard on this topic,' another chimed in.
Neely had been screaming and threatening passengers on the southbound F train, telling them he was ready to go to kill someone and go to jail.
Penny intervened to subdue him. He placed him in a chokehold that prosecutors claimed was fatal.
Many golf fans took to social media to praise the veteran professional for taking a stand
Penny was vilified as a racist vigilante and lampooned by liberals. But many others took his side, heralding him a hero of a lawless city who did what no one else was prepared to do.
The jury of 12 New Yorkers were forensic with the evidence, poring over testimony transcripts and watching bodycam footage from the day in question multiple times.
But today, they announced they had failed to come to a unanimous verdict for a second time on the key charge of second degree manslaughter. They had deliberated for four days.
Rather than declaring a mistrial, the judge agreed to an unorthodox request from the prosecution - the top charge was dropped, and the jury has been told to come back next week to focus on count two: criminally negligent homicide.
