U.S. Marine veteran Daniel Penny celebrated his acquittal Monday evening at Stone Street Tavern in Manhattan’s Financial District, hours after a jury found him not guilty of criminally negligent homicide in the death of Jordan Neely.

Penny, joined by his defense attorneys Thomas Kenniff and Steven Raiser, raised a glass in celebration. Kenniff shared a photo of the cheerful scene on social media, showing a smiling Penny surrounded by holiday decorations. Patrons at the tavern reportedly pulled out their phones to snap photos with Penny, who stood trial in a contentious legal battle brought by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg.

The jury’s verdict spared Penny from facing up to four years in prison. He had initially been charged with second-degree manslaughter—a more serious offense carrying a maximum 15-year sentence—but prosecutors dropped that charge after the jury deadlocked late last week.

Penny, who remained stoic throughout the trial, broke into a smile in the courtroom as the jury forewoman read the not-guilty verdict. Well-wishes poured in for Penny after the decision, including congratulations from Kyle Rittenhouse, whose trial consultant also assisted in Penny’s case.

Vice President-elect JD Vance praised the outcome, stating: “Thank God justice was done in this case. It was a scandal Penny was ever prosecuted in the first place.”

The high-profile trial has sparked ongoing debates about self-defense and the role of prosecutors in controversial cases while BLM activists are threatening civil unrest.