Chokehold death of homeless man on New York subway ruled a homicide

The city’s medical examiner has ruled the death of a man who was choked by a fellow subway passenger a homicide.

A medical examiner representative stated Thursday that 30-year-old Jordan Neely died on Monday from a compression of the neck while riding the F train in Manhattan. Homicide does not imply intent or responsibility. Local media said Neely was homeless.

An anonymous individual choked Neely on a subway train floor for over three minutes in a viral video. The video shows two men restraining Neely’s arms before he collapsed.

The footage was unconfirmed by Reuters.

On New York’s busy trains and stations, Neely dressed and danced like Michael Jackson. According to investigators, he boarded the train and said he was hungry and ready to die.

Local media said that police questioned and released the 24-year-old former Marine who choked Neely on Monday. He’s unnamed.

The Manhattan District Attorney’s Office was analyzing the medical examiner’s report, viewing video and photo footage of the encounter, and interviewing witnesses. It also examined Neely’s medical records.

The city should do more for the homeless and mentally ill, and the man who choked Neely should be arrested. Some have also claimed that race—Neely is black and the man who choked him is white—has influenced the city’s case.

The Bronx and Queens-based Democratic U.S. Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez says Neely was killed.

“Jordan was houseless and crying for food in a time when the city is raising rents and stripping services,” she tweeted. “Passive headlines shield the murderer from charges.”

New York Mayor Eric Adams blamed mental health issues for the event, but he would not speak further while the inquiry is ongoing.

“We do know that there were serious mental health issues in play here,” he added, adding that his administration has helped homeless people off the streets and subways.