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The death of a 30-year-old homeless Black man, who was killed when a white man put him in a chokehold on the New York City subway, led to widespread outcry and protests in the United States.
On Friday, New York City was reeling from the death of Jordan Neely, who was choked to death on May 1 as he complained about being homeless, hungry, and thirsty.
Neely was confronted by a 24-year-old white man, reportedly a US marine veteran, who placed him in a chokehold for 15 minutes for speaking loudly.
The New York City’s medical examiner classified the death as a homicide, due to “compression of neck (chokehold)”.
Authorities by Thursday evening had not named the suspect and no charges had been filed against him.
Police reportedly spoke with the white man and then let him go.
The New York Post reported on Friday that the suspect has retained a lawyer.
“This is a solemn and serious matter that ended in the tragic loss of Jordan Neely’s life,” a representative for Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg said in a statement.
The office has begun a “rigorous ongoing investigation” by “senior, experienced prosecutors.”
Lennon Edwards, a lawyer representing Neely’s family, said: “Fifteen minutes is too long to go without help, intervention and without air. Passengers are not supposed to die on the floor of our subways.”
Neely’s death has led to conversations over racism in the US, violence against Black people, and support for the people who are homeless and struggling with mental illness.
Rights activist Jen White-Johnson wrote on Twitter that the “unhoused people are twice as likely to be victims of violent crimes as perpetrators. They’re less likely to be believed when they try to report a crime.”
