A U.S. Marine veteran from West Islip says he was protecting himself following the death of a man on a New York City subway.

Attorneys for Daniel Penny say their client never intended to harm Jordan Neely.

Neely was placed in a chokehold Monday and later died.

A freelance journalist who took the video says Neely had been screaming at other passengers but had not attacked anyone.

No criminal charges have been filed in the case so far.

No arrests were made by police, prompting outrage from some who demanded criminal charges in the death.

Others, including New York City Mayor Eric Adams, have urged caution, highlighting the rights of riders to defend themselves in certain situations as well as the perils of a transit system that often serves as a shelter for the city’s neediest residents.