Jordan Neely was laid to rest at Mount Neboh Baptist Church in Harlem, and mourners remember him as an “extraordinary, wonderful dancer… the mirror image of Michael Jackson.”
Authorities say the 30-year-old was strangled to death by Daniel Penny on a New York subway train on May 1. Since then, police have charged Penny with manslaughter in Neely’s death.
Jordan Neely Remembered As “phenomenal” Dancer: “MJ’s Reflection,” Friends Say
The mourners remembered Neely posing as Michael Jackson, New York Post Office report. One of Neely’s childhood friends, Rocco Polanco, even shared his thoughts.
“Jordan is an amazing dancer – extraordinary. He’s a mirror image of Michael Jackson – he has every patty, and even has the same facial structure.
Friends lifted up with perfect MJ impersonation after King Of Pop passed away in 2009
Noel McDonald said he didn’t know Neely’s family but felt he had to pay his respects one last time, according to Post.
“The brother in there is so talented,” said McDonald Post. “He has a talent. And he’s homeless for sure – he’s homeless because he’s carrying the emotional pain of his mother’s death,” McDonald said, referring to Neely’s mother’s murder in 2007.
Meanwhile, Polanco said the two often hang out together near Harlem’s infamous Apollo Theatre, the newspaper reported.
He added that Neely was the one who uplifted their group of friends by posing as him after Michael Jackson died in 2009.
Polanco said: “He made us all feel good when Michael Jackson passed away. “People come to Times Square just to see [Jordan].”
Pastor Al Sharpton delivers eulogy at Neely’s funeral, praising Penny for vigilance
ABC7 Rev report. Al Sharpton delivered a powerful eulogy at Neely’s funeral. He hit Penny for what he calls vigilism, according to this outlet.
He explains: “The good Samaritan helps those in need, they don’t strangle them.
At the end of my eulogy, those gathered began chanting for Jordan Neely. Without justice there can be no peace.#JordanNeely
: @JtTheCr8Guru pic.twitter.com/JvLO7cKmnd
– Pastor Al Sharpton (@TheRevAl) May 19, 2023
The Chokehold And Aftermath: The Death of Jordan Neely
The city medical examiner ruled Neely’s death a homicide. He was found dead of “strangulation (suffocation)”.
However, Daniel Penny’s security team insists he wasn’t trying to kill Neely when he grabbed him, but was just trying to protect himself and other passengers from an angry homeless man.
Meanwhile, Neely’s family wants Penny to be tried for murder, not manslaughter.
Penny remains free on $100,000 bail.
GoFundMe for Penny has raised nearly $2 million in legal fees, as reported by Shade room.
