Subway chokehold victim Jordan Neely was 'self medicating' with K2 before his ... trends now

Jordan Neely was self-medicating with K2 to treat his depression in the wake of his mother's passing when he was choked to death on a New York City subway, his uncle claimed as he called on officials to make an arrest.

Christopher Neely, 44, revealed his nephew's reliance on the synthetic weed known as Spice, as he slammed New York City law enforcement for releasing Daniel Penny. 

Penny, 24, is the US Marine veteran who was identified as the person who fatally choked Neely in the incident on Monday. 

He joined public officials and civil rights activists calling for the arrests of at least three people for what he called a 'gang killing' of his nephew, who he said would only get help when people called the police on him. 

Daniel Penny, 24, has not been charged with a crime in relation to Neely's death, but broke his silence Friday claiming he acted in self defense and that he 'never intended to harm' the former Michael Jackson impersonator.

Multiple reports suggest that Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg may convene a grand jury and pursue criminal charges as early as next week. 

The release of Penny has outraged many, including Neely's uncle who told The New York Post that the drugs were a way of dealing with his grief. 

'When he lost his mother, my sister, it was heartbreaking for him,' he said 'He got into K2 and drugs, which was his way of healing himself.' 

Neely said he did not know if his nephew was on any other drugs besides K2. 

'He was back and forth on the medication. Jordan was really out on the streets — he didn't want no help. The only time he'd get help is when people would call the police on him. The mental health system is horrible.'

Witnesses said that around 2:30 p.m. on Monday, Neely, who relatives have said he was schizophrenic, was behaving erratically, throwing garbage and screaming that he wanted to 'die' or 'go to jail' because he was fed up about having no food. 

Video footage shows Penny with Neely in the chokehold. For two minutes and five seconds, Neely struggled on the floor, flailing his feet. He went limp after two minutes and six seconds.

Police took Penny into custody. But he was later released and has not been charged.

'Why would you release somebody who just choked someone to death?' he told The Post on Friday.

'The Marine should never have been released at all,' he added. 'That was a stab in the face to all of Jordan's family and loved ones.

'The good

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