Phil Mickelson applauds Daniel Penny jury for acquittal: 'A little common sense'

"Finally a little common sense," Mickelson wrote in a post on X. "There never should have been a trial. He should be commended for selfless actions to protect the other passengers and those who brought charges should be out of a job."

Penny, a 26-year-old Marine veteran and architecture student, was charged with manslaughter and criminally negligent homicide for the subway chokehold death of Neely, a 30-year-old homeless man with schizophrenia who barged onto the train shouting death threats while high on a type of synthetic marijuana known as K2.

In a statement, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, whose office secured charges against Penny with a grand jury indictment after police had questioned and released him in connection with the incident, said he would respect the jury's decision. However, he also condemned "unacceptable" behavior that he said had targeted his prosecutors.

"Unfortunately, over the duration of this trial, talented career prosecutors and their family members were besieged with hate and threats - on social media, by phone and over email," he said. "Simply put, this is unacceptable, and everyone, no matter your opinion on this case, should condemn it."

Mickelson also expressed his support for Penny earlier in the day.

"If a deranged individual threatens to kill you let's hope there's a Daniel Penny around," he wrote on X in part.

Fox News' Michael Ruiz and Grace Taggart contributed to this report.