A US man known for his Michael Jackson impersonations has died on the New York subway after being put in an extended chokehold.
The medical examiner in New York has ruled the death of Jordan Neely, 30, as a homicide and attributed the cause to "compression of the neck."
Subway passenger Juan Alberto Vazquez said Neely was acting erratically, throwing rubbish and causing a scene on the F northbound train on Tuesday.
"I don't have food, I don't have a drink, I'm fed up. I don't mind going to jail and getting life in prison. I'm ready to die," said Vazquez.
He said Neely took off his jacket and threw it on the ground too.
A short time later, a 24-year-old ex-marine passenger also on the train approached Neely from behind and took him to the ground before locking him in a chokehold.
In a three-minute video posted online, the younger man can be seen lying on the ground with his arms wrapped around Neely's neck.
Witnesses said he was held down for about 15 minutes.
The train's conductor stopped at the Broadway-Lafayette Street station, calling 911 shortly after.
Neely was known for entertaining thousands of passengers over the past decade with his impersonations of the late pop star Michael Jackson, performing a slick moonwalk in a red Thriller jacket.
But that came to an end Tuesday when the final moments of his life were caught on video, sparking outrage.
Protestors filed into the Broadway-Lafayette Street station just hours after Neely's death, spraypainting "Jordan Neely was murdered here" on the ground.
A Manhattan district attorney is now looking into the case, while the 24-year-old is yet to be charged.
