Photo: JUSTIN LANE/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock , Andrew Savulich/New York Daily News/Tribune News Service via Getty

Daniel Penny Breaks His Silence After N.Y.C. Subway Chokehold Killing of Jordan Neely

Daniel Pennyis breaking his silence.

The former marine, 24, who allegedly putJordan Neelyinto a deadly chokehold while on a New York City subway earlier this month, spoke out about the ordeal for the first time in an interview withThe New York Post.

Telling the outlet that Neely’s death “had nothing to do with race,” Penny said, “I judge a person based on their character. I’m not a white supremacist.”

Though Penny told thePosthe could not go into detail about the events that transpired on the day of Neely’s death because of his pending case, he did say that the incident was not like “anything I’d experienced before,” adding, “This was different, this time was much different.”

Penny’s attorney, Thomas Kenniff, who works with the law firm Raiser & Kenniff, also spoke with thePostand said that his client’s fellow train passengers can vouch for him. “There are numerous witnesses from all different walks of life who have absolutely no motive to do anything other than to recount what actually happened. They are uniform in their recollection of events,” he said.

Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up forPEOPLE’s free True Crime newsletterfor breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases.

Paul Martinka/AP

New York police officers respond to the scene where a fight was reported on a subway train, Monday, May 1, 2023, in New York. A man suffering an apparent mental health episode aboard a New York City subway died on Monday after being placed in a headlock by a fellow rider, according to police officials and video of the encounter. Jordan Neely, 30, was shouting and pacing aboard an F train in Manhattan witnesses and police said, when he was taken to the floor by another passenger. (Paul Martinka via AP)

Earlier this month, Neely, 30, was riding a northbound F train in Manhattan when he began harassing passengers, authorities told multiple news outlets, includingABC 7.

“He starts to make a speech,” Juan Alberto Vazquez, who filmed the ordeal, previously told thePost. “He started screaming in an aggressive manner. He said he had no food, he had no drink, that he was tired and doesn’t care if he goes to jail. He started screaming all these things, took off his jacket, a black jacket that he had, and threw it on the ground.”

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Jordan Neely.Andrew Savulich/New York Daily News/Tribune News Service via Getty

Jordan Neely is pictured before going to see the Michael Jackson movie, “This is It,” outside the Regal Cinemas on Eighth Avenuereetand 42nd St. in Times Square, New York, in 2009.

According to thePost, Penny was traveling back to Manhattan after attending classes and was on his way to the gym when the incident occurred. He did not name the school where he is studying architecture, but said he is now taking classes remotely.

He was charged for the incident with second-degree manslaughter on May 12, and is currently out on a $100,000 bail, perCNN.

Then asked to detail if he would take action if he were to ever find himself in a similar situation, Penny nodded and told the outlet, “You know, I live an authentic and genuine life. And I would — if there was a threat and danger in the present.”

Penny also told thePostthat he has the support of family and friends since the incident. “My mom is okay,” he said. “My sisters understand. They all support me.”

source: people.com