In the ongoing trial of Daniel Penny for the May 2023 death of Jordan Neely, Eric Gonzalez, a witness who assisted Penny during the incident, testified that he repeatedly urged Penny to release Neely from a chokehold. Gonzalez described Neely as appearing distressed and attempting to escape, stating that he offered to hold Neely's hands to allow Penny to let go. Despite Gonzalez's efforts, Penny maintained his grip for nearly six minutes, leading to Neely's death. The prosecution argues that Penny acted with indifference, while the defense claims he was protecting passengers from a threatening individual. Gonzalez expressed fear over his involvement in the case, having initially misled investigators out of concern for being implicated. The trial continues to draw public attention amid protests related to Neely's death and the circumstances surrounding it.