Jordan Neely killing: lack of arrest highlights racial disparities in charging

As New York City authorities continue to investigate the killing of an unhoused Black man who was put into a chokehold by a white transit passenger, anger and frustration mounted over the lack of an arrest in the case, reinforcing longstanding racial disparities over who gets charged for crimes in the city and nationally.

Black Americans are disproportionately arrested, convicted and detained pre-trial compared with white Americans. A United Nations report on US criminal justice system disparities showed that Black Americans are also unevenly denied bail and then detained when they are unable to afford it. In this case, no charges had been filed as of late Friday, days after police questioned the white rider.

Citing a source, ABC7 reported that a grand jury could convene next week to determine whether charges are appropriate.