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On Thursday afternoon Jordan Williams, the man accused of stabbing a man in a Brooklyn subway, was released without bail. His arrest and self-defense plea created controversy. There are similarities between his case and that of ex-Marine Daniel Penny.

Penny put Jordan Neely, into a chokehold in an effort to restrain him on a Manhattan subway. Witnesses claim that Neely had been threatening to kill people and harassing subway riders. And Penny had to act to defend himself and the others. 

Penny was indicted this week putting a spotlight on the debate about self-defense in the context of public safety.

Self-defense on a Brooklyn Subway

Williams allegedly killed Devictor Quedraogo, 36, who had been harassing and attacking passengers aboard a northbound J train. The swift release of Williams without any bail also invites the comparison to the Daniel Penny case.

Williams, a 20-year-old, walked out of Kings County criminal court on Thursday afternoon. The judge, opting not to impose bail, urged Williams to fight the case with the support of his family and community. 

Defense attorney Jason Goldman emphasized that Williams should be free as his case progresses. And expressed his gratitude to the judge claiming that "today, the system worked."

The fatal altercation took place on Tuesday evening when police received a distressing 911 call regarding a stabbing onboard the train. 

Quedraogo was found with a stab wound in his chest and was pronounced dead at New York-Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist Hospital.

 Williams made no statements during his arrest. And nodded affirmatively when questioned about acting in self-defense. 

Williams' brother said the stabbing occurred while defending his girlfriend against the victim's aggressive behavior.

Reports suggest that Quedraogo had been harassing multiple passengers and displaying belligerent and erratic behavior. And was potentially influenced by drugs or alcohol. 

The toxicology reports have not yet been released.

 Williams said he intervened to protect his girlfriend.  And that he urged Quedraogo to stop harassing her before a physical altercation ensued. 

Quedraogo also hit Williams’ girlfriend.

Surveillance footage from cell phones captured the scuffle leading up to the fatal stabbing, assisting investigators in piecing together the events. 

Reports that transit crime in New York City has experienced an overall decrease of nearly 8 percent, are in dispute. High-profile violent incidents continue to draw public attention. And within the last month, there have been many violent incidents.

 The MTA has assured the public that it is fully cooperating with the investigations into both cases.

MTA President Richard Davey expressed confidence in the system, stating that despite the recent cases millions of daily riders are generally safe.

As the legal proceedings unfold, the spotlight remains on the delicate balance between personal safety and the legal interpretation of self-defense. 

The contrasting outcomes in the Williams and Penny cases will undoubtedly shape the ongoing discourse surrounding similar incidents in the future.