Toms River man stabbed in deadly fight charged with firing gun during struggle

Yahoo

02-07-2025

A man who was stabbed in a Toms River home in May in a fight that left another man dead has been charged with weapons offenses for firing a handgun during the deadly clash, authorities said.
Roderick Seward, 30, of Toms River, was taken to Ocean County Jail Tuesday following his arrest where he remains pending a detention hearing, Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer said in a statement.
Following the bloodshed on the 3400 block of Adams Avenue that took place about 7 a.m. on May 9, Seward was initially charged with cocaine possession, after police found the drug in his backpack at the scene, Billhimer said.
Meanwhile, Steven McNeill, 32, of Jackson, the man accused of the stabbings that left Raniek Mendez, 34, of Brick, dead, remains at the jail pending trial.
Police said Mendez was stabbed while trying to break up the fight.
McNeill has been charged with murder, attempted murder, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, unlawful possession of a weapon, possession of a weapon by a convicted person and eluding.
At McNeil's detention hearing at the end of May, his defense attorney claimed that McNeil acted in self defense.
Superior Court Judge Wendel E. Daniels rejected that claim.
Toms River police officers went to the same Adams Avenue home at 5:50 a.m. that day, an hour before the stabbings, in response to a 911 call about a fight between McNeill and Seward, Billhimer said. After McNeil left the home, the police cleared the scene.
Toms River officers returned to the home an hour and a half later after an off-duty Seaside Park Class II officer leaving a nearby convenince store called 911 at 7:20 a.m., reporting that there was a fight at the home.
The officers found Mendez with stab wounds to the chest. He was taken to Community Medical Center in Toms River where he died of his injuries.
Investigators discovered that Seward was also stabbed in the fight. He was taken to Ocean University Medical Center in Brick by a family member for injuries that were not life-threatening, Billhimer said.
Detectives recovered a single shell casing at the scene. They determined that Seward fired the weapon, Billhimer said.
Investigators also found that a vehicle had fled the scene of the stabbings. Toms River police found McNeill behind the wheel of it in Jackson. He was arrested after he initially refused to pull over, Billhimer said.
Ken Serrano covers crime, breaking news and investigations. Reach him at 732-643-4029 or [e-mail].
This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Toms River man charged with gun possession in deadly fight