A 30-year-old Toms River man has been charged with weapons offenses after investigators determined he fired a gun during a violent altercation on Adams Avenue that left one man dead and another injured on May 9, 2025.

Authorities say Roderick Seward was charged on July 1 with Unlawful Possession of a Weapon and Possession of a Weapon for an Unlawful Purpose. The charges stem from an early morning incident in which Raniek Mendez, 34, of Brick Township, was fatally stabbed.

The confrontation unfolded around 7:20 a.m., when Toms River police responded to a 911 call from an off-duty Seaside Park Class II police officer who reported an altercation at a nearby residence. Officers arriving at the scene found Mendez suffering from a stab wound to the chest. He was transported to Community Medical Center, where he was later pronounced dead.

Investigators recovered a single shell casing at the scene, indicating a firearm had been discharged. Seward, who also sustained stab wounds, was transported by a family member to Ocean University Medical Center for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries.

Further investigation revealed that just two hours earlier, at approximately 5:50 a.m., police had responded to the same residence for a separate disturbance involving Seward and another man, later identified as McNeill. McNeill had left the scene before officers arrived and no arrests were made at that time.

Later that day, detectives identified a vehicle fleeing the scene of the fatal altercation. Toms River police located the vehicle in Jackson Township and attempted a traffic stop. The driver — confirmed to be McNeill — initially failed to comply with officers’ commands but eventually pulled over and was taken into custody without incident.

McNeill was subsequently charged with Murder in the death of Mendez, Attempted Murder for the stabbing of Seward, multiple weapons offenses, Eluding, and being a Certain Person Not to Possess a Weapon. He remains in custody at the Ocean County Jail pending trial.

While executing a search warrant at the Adams Avenue residence, detectives recovered a backpack belonging to Seward. A search of the bag revealed a quantity of cocaine, resulting in charges of Possession of Less than One Half Ounce of Cocaine with Intent to Distribute and Possession of Cocaine. Those charges were initially served via summons.

Following further forensic and witness analysis, authorities concluded that Seward had discharged a firearm during the altercation. He turned himself in at Toms River Police Headquarters on July 1 and is currently lodged at the Ocean County Jail pending a detention hearing.

The investigation remains ongoing.