Arrest Made, Victims Identified In Toms River Stabbing Incident

TOMS RIVER, NJ ? A Jackson Township man has been charged with murder in the fatal stabbing of a manand stabbing and injuring a second man in Toms River on Friday.

Steven I. McNeill, 32, of Jackson, has been charged with murder, attempted murder, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, unlawful possession of a weapon, being a certain person not to possess a weapon and eluding, Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer said.

McNeill is accused of fatally stabbing Raniek Mendez, 34, of Brick Township, and with stabbing and injuring Roderick Seward, 30, of Toms River, Billhimer said.

Authorities say the stabbings happened following a pair of arguments at a home on Adams Avenue.

Billhimer said Toms River police responded to a 911 call about 7:20 a.m. on Friday about an altercation at the home. The 911 call was made by an off-duty Seaside Park Class II police officer who was leaving the nearby Quick Chek, Billhimer said.

Toms River police found Mendez with a stab wound to his chest, and he was taken to Community Medical Center in Toms River, where he ultimately succumbed to his injuries, Billhimer said.

Seward had been taken to Ocean University Medical Center in Brick by a family member for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries, Billhimer said.

Detectives learned the 911 call at 7:20 a.m. was the second one to the home Friday morning, he said. Toms River police had responded to a 911 call about 5:50 a.m. and learned McNeill and Seward had been in an argument at the home. McNeill left the home at that time and police then left, Billhimer said.

Detectives were able to identify a vehicle that had left the scene of the stabbings and it was found in Jackson, Billhimer said. Police tried to pull it over but initially the driver ? later identified as McNeill ? finally pulled over and McNeill was arrested, he said.

Video published by The Lakewood Scoop on Friday shows a person lying on the ground with three Toms River police vehicles nearby, on Whitesville Road.

Authorities identified McNeill as being responsible for the stabbings, and he was charged and taken to the Ocean County Jail. He is being held there pending a detention hearing, Billhimer said.

A search at the Adams Avenue home turned up a backpack that belonged to Seward, he said, and detectives seized an unspecified amount of cocaine. Seward has been charged with possession of less than a half-ounce of cocaine with intent to distribute and with possession of cocaine, and charged via summonses pending future court appearances, Billhimer said.

"I would add that we have recovered a shell casing from the scene and have a witness report of hearing a single gunshot, but we have not recovered a weapon at this point in time," Billhimer said. "This investigation remains active and ongoing."

The Prosecutor?s Office Major Crime Unit, Toms River police and Ocean County Sheriff?s Office Crime Scene Investigation Unit investigated.