The manslaughter trial of Daniel Penny, a US Marine Corps veteran, has captured nationwide attention, sparking heated debates about self-defense, mental health, and race in America.

What started as a chaotic subway encounter on May 1, 2023, quickly spiraled into a tragedy and eventually into one of the country’s most controversial trials of the year.

Here’s a closer look at who Daniel Penny is, what happened on that fateful subway ride, and the still ongoing trial.

Who is Daniel Penny and What Happened on the Subway?

Daniel Penny is a Marine Corps veteran and a college student studying architecture. With four years of military service, Penny has been described as someone who values order, safety, and responsibility.

On that spring day in May, the then-24-year-old Vet was on his way from class to the gym when he encountered Jordan Neely on a New York City subway.

This was no ordinary subway ride, though—it was a moment that would ultimately change Penny’s life and cast him into the center of a media firestorm.

Jordan Neely, a 30-year-old homeless man known for his Michael Jackson impersonations, was reportedly in the middle of a mental health crisis.

Witnesses said he was shouting, making aggressive gestures, and creating a tense atmosphere on the train.