Toms River Man Faces Charges After Fatal Stabbing Incident

Roderick Seward, 30, of Toms River, and Steven McNeill.

Toms River Man Faces Charges After Fatal Stabbing Incident

According to authorities, a man who was stabbed in a fight that killed another man at a Toms River home in May has been charged with weapons charges for using a firearm during the deadly altercation.

Roderick Seward, 30, of Toms River, was arrested on Tuesday and transferred to Ocean County Jail, where he is currently awaiting a detention hearing.

When police discovered cocaine in Seward's backpack at the scene of the May 9 shooting at around 7 a.m. in the 3400 block of Adams Avenue, they initially charged him with possessing the narcotic, according to Billhimer.

In the meantime, Jackson resident Steven McNeill, 32, who is charged with the stabbing deaths of Brick resident Raniek Mendez, 34, is still being held in jail pending trial.

McNeill faces charges of evading, unauthorized possession of a weapon, possession of a weapon by a convicted individual, murder, attempted murder, and unlawful possession of a weapon.

His defense lawyer asserted that McNeil acted in self-defense during his detention hearing at the end of May.

An hour before to the stabbings, at 5:50 a.m. that day, Toms River police officers responded to a 911 call regarding a confrontation between McNeill and Seward at the same residence on Adams Avenue, according to the Prosecutor. The police removed the scene after McNeil left the house.

After an off-duty Seaside Park Class II officer left a nearby convenience store at 7:20 a.m. and called 911 to report a dispute at the residence, Toms River officers arrived back at the residence an hour and a half later.

Mendez had been stabbed in the chest when the officers discovered him. After being brought to Toms River's Community Medical Center, he passed away from his wounds.

Investigators found that Seward was stabbed during the altercation as well. According to Billhimer, a family member brought him to Ocean University Medical Center in Brick for non-life-threatening injuries.

One shell casing was found at the scene by detectives. According to Billhimer, they concluded that Seward was the one who fired the firearm.

Additionally, investigators discovered that a car had left the stabbing scene. McNeill was spotted driving it in Jackson by Toms River police. At first, he refused to stop, which led to his detention, according to Billhimer.

Ken Serrano reports on investigations, crime, and breaking news. You may contact him at 732-643-4029.