In an incident on the New York subway, a man named Jordan Neely boarded the same car and began to behave aggressively, leading to the intervention of Daniel Penny, a former Marine trained in martial arts, who viewed Neely as a threat to passengers. Penny subdued Neely using a chokehold for more than five minutes, resulting in Neely's death in the hospital due to neck compression.
Subsequently, Penny was tried for criminally negligent homicide and ultimately acquitted. His defense argued that he acted in self-defense and for the safety of the other passengers, describing Neely as a volatile person with mental health issues.
Neely, a part-time subway performer, had been diagnosed with depression and schizophrenia due to the murder of his mother when he was a teenager. After Penny's acquittal, Neely's father filed a lawsuit for negligence, assault, and injury.
Despite being acquitted, Daniel Penny was hired by a Wall Street firm, Andreessen Horowitz, two months after the trial. Although he lacked experience in finance, the firm employed him to strengthen its relationships with the Department of Defense and the security sector, highlighting his bravery in the subway incident.
The leaders of Andreessen Horowitz, known for their support of Donald Trump, publicly backed Penny's hiring. The decision to hire Penny sparked controversy, especially among conservative media that justified his actions on the subway.
During his trial, Daniel Penny received support from these conservative media outlets, as well as from his current employer. Despite the controversy, Penny continues to work in his new position on Wall Street.
