Hundreds Expected to Mourn Jordan Neely at Harlem Funeral 

Hundreds are expected to gather in Harlem Friday to mourn Jordan Neely, the homeless man who died in a subway rider’s chokehold this month, at a funeral.

The Rev. Al Sharpton is slated to eulogize Neely, whose family has described as a promising young man crushed by his mother’s murder and failed by the mental health system. They acknowledge he had his “demons,” but say he never physically touched anyone — and didn’t deserve to die on the floor of that F train in Daniel Penny’s grip on May 1.

The same pastor who presided over his mother’s 2007 funeral will lead the ceremony at Mount Neboh Baptist Church starting around 11 a.m.

Neely was 30 when he died. He had a lengthy criminal record for offenses including assault and disorderly conduct and allegedly was threatening people on the train that day, witnesses have said. Neely’s family said he “experienced a mental health episode” — and that no rider asked what was wrong before Penny and two others restrained him.

Penny was arrested on a single charge of second-degree manslaughter more than a week after the medical examiner’s office ruled Neely’s death a homicide. Protests erupted across the city, with some slamming the Manhattan district attorney’s office for not taking action earlier. At least one turned chaotic — and violent. A Molotov cocktail was found.

Daniel Penny is out on a $100,00 dollar bond tonight after surrendering himself this morning on manslaughter charges. Gilma Avalos reports.

Neely was a street performer known for his Michael Jackson impressions. Entertaining others was how he tried to cope with the horror of his early life and loss, his family representatives have said.

He had also been on a special city watch list, considered a potential risk to himself and others.

Roger Abrams, a community health representative, said he saw Neely on the subway a week before his death. Neely was disheveled and told people he was hungry and in need of spare change. Abrams said he approached Neely and asked him why he no longer performs.

“I haven’t been feeling well,” Abrams remembered Neely saying.

Mayor Eric Adams has called Neely’s death a tragedy, declaring him a casualty of the mental health system. While forcefully saying he “did not deserve to die,” the Democrat was careful to toe the line between acknowledging the community heartbreak — and ensuing racial tensions — over his death without appearing to ascribe blame to Penny.

Ten days after Jordan Neely died on an NYC subway from a chokehold, the Manhattan district attorney said that charges would be filed against him Marine veteran Daniel Penny is expected to be arrested and arraigned Friday on a second-degree manslaughter charge. NBC New York’s Checkey Beckford reports.

Penny’s legal defense fund, meanwhile, has raised more than $2.6 million in the 18 days since Neely died.

Penny’s attorneys have insisted he never meant to harm Neely. They describe him as a “decorated Marine veteran” who “stepped in to protect himself and his fellow New Yorkers” and who “risked his own life and safety” in the process. They say he couldn’t have known Neely would die of the chokehold, calling it an “unfortunate result.”

Neely’s family has said the 24-year-old’s statements amount to a confession.

Penny is due back in court later this month.

Two sources familiar with the matter say the Manhattan DA’s office may present the case to a grand jury as soon as this week. News 4’s Andrew Siff reports.