Thomas Kenniff, the lawyer for Marine veteran Daniel Penny, has pointed out the irony in his client’s legal troubles amidst ongoing violence in the New York City subway system.
Kenniff shared his thoughts during an appearance on “Jesse Watters Primetime,” discussing a recent incident where a shooting took place inside an NYC subway. The details are still emerging, but authorities have said that the 32-year-old man who allegedly shot a 36-year-old man on the train won’t face charges as he was acting in “self-defense.”
Fox host Jesse Watters brought up the question of why charges were pressed against Penny for the death of Jordan Neely in May 2023, but not against others in similar situations, like the 32-year-old suspect. Kenniff expressed his contentment knowing that individuals defending themselves and deemed justified, as the video of the incident suggests, are not being prosecuted. However, he also voiced his frustration when comparing these cases.
Kenniff highlighted the similarities between the incident involving his client last May and the recent subway shooting. He recounted how Penny was returning from college when Jordan Neely entered the subway car, waited for the doors to close, and then began threatening people. This situation mirrors the recent event where a clearly disturbed individual announced intentions of violence upon entering a crowded subway car.
Kenniff also expressed his appreciation for how Penny handled the situation with Neely. Instead of using a chokehold, Penny employed a restraint move to take Neely down, intending to hold him until the police arrived. This approach, Kenniff argues, was safer and more responsible, especially given the uncertainty of whether someone might be armed.
The incident on Thursday involved a confrontation between an “aggressive and provocative” 36-year-old man and the 32-year-old on the Northbound A train. As the argument escalated, the 36-year-old reportedly pulled out a firearm and advanced towards the 32-year-old in a threatening manner. The younger man managed to disarm the aggressor during the scuffle and fired multiple shots, hitting him.
In response to rising crime rates in the subway, which have increased by 13% year-over-year, Democratic New York Gov. Kathy Hochul announced on March 6 that she would be deploying 750 members of the New York National Guard and 250 state troopers to the subway system. This move aims to address the growing concern and anxiety among the public regarding safety in the subway.