• Jordan Neely was on a “Prime 50” checklist maintained by NYC outreach staff, The New York Occasions reported.
• It means staff recognized Neely as somebody who was homeless and in want of pressing help.
• Neely died by the hands of Daniel Penny, an ex-Marine who put Neely in a chokehold on the subway.

Jordan Neely, the 30-year-old homeless man killed on a New York Metropolis subway by a fellow passenger final week, had a historical past fraught with private loss and wrestle, in keeping with outreach staff who tried to assist him over time. 

Neely’s mom was brutally murdered when he was younger, and he later fought drug dependancy. Police have arrested Neely a number of instances over time, and he was on a “Prime 50” checklist maintained by New York Metropolis outreach staff who assist town’s homeless, The New York Occasions reported.

His presence on the checklist meant he was thought of to be in pressing want of help, the Occasions reported. He was taken to the hospital on a number of events, each voluntarily and involuntarily, and he used K2, an often-abused pressure of artificial marijuana, outreach staff instructed the Occasions. 

In the summertime of 2019, an outreach employee famous that Neely had misplaced a big quantity of weight and would sleep upright, the Occasions reported. His habits had turn into erratic. One employee stated he threatened to kill a subway sales space agent however disappeared earlier than assist arrived.

Neely had greater than three dozen arrests, lots of which have been for trespassing or subway fare evasion. However at the least 4 arrests got here after he was accused of punching individuals. Two such cases have been within the subway system, in keeping with the Occasions. 

Witnesses to Neely’s loss of life on Might 1 stated although he was yelling, he hadn’t assaulted anybody within the subway automobile, the Occasions beforehand reported.

Neely died after 24-year-old Daniel Penny, an ex-Marine, put him in a chokehold – a maneuver that may be lethal and is prohibited amongst New York Metropolis cops. Penny’s attorneys stated in an announcement that Neely was “aggressively threatening” Penny and different passengers. The attorneys added that Penny “by no means meant” to trigger any hurt.

Penny has not been arrested and has but to face any legal prices. In the meantime, Neely’s loss of life has sparked protests within the metropolis. 

Earlier than he was on the most-watched checklist amongst outreach staff, Neely was recognized round city for his Michael Jackson impersonation, one thing he leaned into after the loss of life of his mom when he was solely 14, in keeping with the Occasions.

Neely lived along with his mom till she disappeared in 2007. Her physique was discovered strangled and hidden in a suitcase within the Bronx, and her boyfriend was charged with homicide, in keeping with the Occasions. On the subsequent trial, Neely stated his mom and her boyfriend had a “loopy” relationship with a “struggle daily,” the Occasions reported.

After his mom’s loss of life, Neely dropped out of his Manhattan highschool and commenced performing in costume because the King of Pop on the subway. 

“Everybody known as him Michael Jackson,” Wilson Leon, a former classmate, instructed the Occasions. “The Michael Jackson of Washington Irving.”