Venture capital company employs New York ‘subway vigilante’

(MENAFN) Venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz has hired Daniel Penny as a deal partner for its American Dynamism team. Penny, a former Marine, was acquitted of criminally negligent homicide in December following a high-profile subway incident in New York City. The altercation, which took place in May 2023 on the F subway train, resulted in the death of Jordan Neely, a homeless 30-year-old black man with mental health issues. Penny used a chokehold to restrain Neely, who had reportedly been threatening passengers. The incident, which was captured on video, led to Penny’s arrest and trial. He was found not guilty, and a manslaughter charge was dropped after the jury couldn’t reach a verdict.

Neely’s death sparked national debates over racial justice, with civil rights activists accusing Penny of racial bias. Republican figures, including Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, called him a hero, while others, such as Rev. Al Sharpton, drew comparisons to the 1984 subway shooting by Bernhard Goetz, a white man who was acquitted of charges except for an unlicensed firearm.

David Ulevitch, a general partner at Andreessen Horowitz, defended Penny’s hiring, emphasizing his service as a Marine and his acquittal. Ulevitch noted that the firm evaluates individuals holistically, not based solely on a single event. Vice President JD Vance also praised Penny’s new role. Penny, based in Manhattan, will focus on investments in the government and defense technology sectors.

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