On Monday afternoon, 30-year-old homeless man Jordan Neely was killed in a New York City subway train after suffering a mental health episode. A fellow passenger, reported to be a 24-year-old Marine veteran, held him in a chokehold with the help of two others after he apparently started acting aggressively and making a speech. Video footage of the incident has sparked debate among New Yorkers regarding the actions of the stranger, and whether Neely’s behaviour represented a threat to the safety of other passengers. Neely’s father, Andre Zachery, has since given an interview to The New York Daily News in which he revealed his son had experienced tragedy as a teenager when his mother was murdered by her boyfriend Shawn Southerland. He also mentioned that Neely had developed PTSD and schizophrenia as a result. Neely was known as an expert Michael Jackson impersonator, often performing on the subway and in Times Square, and this was a means to cope with his mental health issues. He had a reputation for being kind and was appreciated for his performances.
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