Tom’s River Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer revealed that a man from Toms River has been charged with firearms violations in relation to an altercation that occurred on May 9 and resulted in one man being killed and another injured.
After a protracted investigation into the incident on Adams Avenue in Toms River, Roderick Seward, 30, was charged on July 1 with Unlawful Possession of a Weapon and Possession of a Weapon for an Unlawful Purpose.
Authorities say that on May 9, at approximately 7:20 a.m., officers received a 911 call about a fight at the house. After exiting a local convenience shop, a Seaside Park Class II Police Officer who was not on duty reported the disturbance.
Brick Township resident Raniek Mendez, 34, was discovered by responding police with a chest stab wound. After being taken to Community Medical Center, he passed away there. After witnesses claimed to have heard a gunshot, detectives also found one bullet casing at the scene.
Seward was later transferred to Ocean University Medical Center by a family member after investigators discovered that he had also been stabbed during the incident. He had no life-threatening injuries.
Officers had previously attended to a fight at the same apartment involving Seward and another guy, identified as McNeill, at approximately 5:50 a.m. the same morning. Before the police came and the situation was cleaned, McNeill had already fled the house.
The Ocean County Sheriff’s Crime site Investigation Unit, Toms River Police Department, and Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit collaborated to identify a car that was observed escaping the site. Later, the McNeill-driven car was found in Jackson Township. McNeill eventually pulled over and was brought into prison without incident after first refusing to stop for the police.
According to the authorities, McNeill was the one who stabbed Seward and Mendez to death. He was accused of eluding, various weapons charges, murder, and attempted murder. While awaiting trial, McNeill is still being held at the Ocean County Jail.
Detectives used a search warrant at the Adams Avenue home throughout the inquiry and found Seward’s cocaine-containing backpack. At first, Seward was accused of possessing something with the intent to distribute it.
Seward had discharged a gun during the altercation, according to additional inquiry. He is being held at the Ocean County Jail for a detention hearing after turning himself in to police on July 1.
Prosecutor Billhimer attributed the investigation’s advancement to the cooperation of the Sheriff’s CSI Unit, Toms River Police, and the Prosecutor’s Office.
