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Neely's arrest history

Neely, who was often homeless, usually attempted to earn money by impersonating singer Michael Jackson, according to Fox 5 NY. Street performers who were acquainted with the man claim that he became depressed after his mother's murder in 2007.

At the time of his death, Neely had an open warrant for his arrest in relation to a violent attack on an elderly woman, as ABC7 reported last May. Neely pleaded guilty to assaulting a 67-year-old woman leaving a subway station in 2021, according to a BBC. 

Before his death, Neely was also under investigation for allegedly pushing someone onto the subway tracks. The 30-year-old man had been arrested over 40 times for multiple assaults, attempted child abduction, drugs and indecent exposure.