The death of a man who was placed in a chokehold by a fellow passenger on a New York City subway train earlier this week has been ruled a homicide by the city's medical examiner as calls for an arrest over the incident intensify.
The man, identified as 30-year-old Jordan Neely, died on Monday from a compression of the neck while travelling on the F train in Manhattan, a spokesperson for the medical examiner said, noting that homicide is not a ruling on intent or culpability.
Mr Neely, according to local media reports, was homeless.
A video of the incident that has circulated on social media showed an unidentified passenger applying a chokehold to a man identified as Neely on the floor of a subway train for more than three minutes.
Two other men are seen in the video restraining Neely's arms before he went limp.
Neely was known to impersonate Michael Jackson, dressing and dancing like the music artist on New York's busy trains and in stations.
The altercation occurred after he boarded the train and began saying he was hungry and ready to die, the New York Times reported, citing police.
The 24-year-old former US Marine who placed Neely in the chokehold was questioned by police and released on Monday, local media reported.
Authorities have not released his name.
The Manhattan District Attorney's Office said it was investigating the incident by reviewing the medical examiner’s report, viewing video and photo footage of the altercation, and conducting interviews with witnesses.
It said it was also examining Neely's medical records.
The incident has led to calls for the man who put Neely in the chokehold to be arrested, and for the city to do more for the homeless and those who are struggling with mental illness.
Some also have claimed that race - Neely was black and the man who choked him is white - has played a part in the city's handling of the case.
New York Mayor Eric Adams cited mental health issues as having a role in the incident, but said he would refrain from commenting further while the investigation is under way.
