New York, May 12 - After a video circulated on social media depicting a man strangling a person of color, supposedly impersonating Michael Jackson, the perpetrator turned himself in to authorities on Friday.

In the widely shared videos on social media, Daniel Penny, a former military personnel, can be seen strangling Jordan Neely, a homeless man who appeared to be mentally unstable. According to witnesses, Neely began shouting at people, prompting the now-custody suspect to subdue him. However, the video shows the victim offering no resistance while still being strangled.

Daniel Penny, el marine que inmovilizó hasta la muerte a Jordan Neely, un imitador de Michael Jackson, se entregó a las autoridades de Nueva York. #BienYDeBuenas con @Soy_PaolaBO y @jesusbahena | #UnMundoCompartido | Síguelo por https://t.co/EVbH0q1vcj pic.twitter.com/doSEIL1Qb9

— N+Media (@nmasmedia) May 12, 2023

Penny's defense claims that this action was taken to protect his own safety and that of the passengers. The defense seeks to argue that their client never intended to take the victim's life and therefore should be exempt from any charges.

After initially being questioned and released, Penny turned himself in to the Manhattan police station this morning. Following numerous protests alleging that a white man had attacked a person of color, it is expected that Penny will be charged with second-degree homicide, which carries a maximum sentence of up to 15 years in prison.