NEW YORK, NY May 16 (DPI) – The former Marine charged in the NYC subway death of a mentally ill man is unlikely to be convicted of charges related to the incident, at least based on the ceaseless reader comments on American news sites.

The marine veteran, 24-year-old Daniel Penny, was widely hailed as a Good Samaritan by many New Yorkers in the days after the May 1 incident.

According to news reports, Penny was riding on the NYC Subway System’s F Train when he put a 30-year-old vagrant in a chokehold. The vagrant, 30-year-old Jordan Neely, had been threatening passengers in the subway car. Neely later died of his injuries from the chokehold. According to Neely’s family members Neely had a long history of mental illness, as well as a long record of arrests.

Last Friday the Manhattan DA’s office charged Penny with second degree manslaughter, which could carry prison of 15 years. Penny, who surrendered to authorities after the charges were announced, was released on a $100,000 bond.

Since then an initiative on a Christian fundraising site has raised more than $2.5 million to support Penny’s defense.

The very first comments on NYTimes.com following the incident suggest that even eyewitnesses supported Penny in subduing the vagrant. The most popular comment:

“I was on this train and encountered this man just before this happened. He was violently threatening passengers, including women and children. This happens almost every time I get on the subway now. When someone says “I am ready to go to jail” it isn’t a figure of speech, it means they’ve reached a place where incarceration seems like the only way to be guaranteed a bed and a meal. and they are willing to do whatever it takes to make that happen. I am sorry for his death, but I have no doubt that the man who restrained him was protecting the public.”