Fresh Weapons Charges Filed in Altercation That Left Brick Man Dead

Roderick Seward, 30, of Toms River, and Steven McNeill. (Photos: Ocean County Jail)

A second person has been charged in a deadly altercation in Toms River in May – this time for weapons offenses.

Roderick Seward, 30, of Toms River, was charged Tuesday with unlawful possession of a weapon and possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose in connection with the incident May 9, 2025 that claimed the life of Raniek Mendez, 34, of Brick Township, who was stabbed to death. The charge against Seward concerns a gunshot that was reportedly heard during the altercation and backed up by the discovery of a shell casing at the scene.

The incident played out at 7:20 a.m. at a residence on Adams Avenue, first reported by an off-duty Seaside Park police officer who was shopping at a nearby convenience store and heard the scuffle. Responding Toms River police officers arrived to discover a male victim, later identified as Mendez, with a stab wound to his chest. Mendez was transported to Community Medical Center in Toms River, where he ultimately succumbed to his injuries.

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According to prosecutors, witnesses at the scene reported hearing a gunshot fired and detectives recovered a single shell casing. A continuing investigation revealed that a second victim, later identified as Seward, was also stabbed at the Adams Avenue residence. Seward was transported to Ocean University Medical Center in Brick Township by a family member for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries.

During the course of the investigation, it was learned that on that same date at approximately 5:50 a.m., police had been called to the same Adams Avenue residence in response to a 911 call. Responding officers learned that Steven McNeill, who has been charged with murder, and Seward had been involved in an altercation at the residence. McNeill left the residence, and responding officers cleared the scene.

Ultimately, a multi-agency investigation led to the identification of a vehicle that fled the scene of the stabbings. Officers from the Toms River Police Department discovered the vehicle traveling in Jackson Township and attempted to effectuate a motor vehicle stop, with the driver initially refusing to abide by the commands. The driver of that vehicle – later identified as McNeill – ultimately brought the vehicle to a stop; McNeill was thereafter taken into custody without incident. He was charged May 9 with murder and weapons offenses, plus eluding police.

While executing a court-authorized search warrant at the Adams Avenue residence, detectives located a backpack allegedly belonging to Seward, prosecutors contend. During a subsequent search of the backpack, detectives seized a quantity of cocaine, leading to drug charges having been filed against Seward. Finally, further investigation “has revealed that Seward was the individual who fired a gun during the altercation on May 9th,” prosecutors said in a statement.

As a result of the new fundings, Seward was charged Monday with the weapons offenses, and surrendered himself at Toms River Township Police Headquarters. He was transported to the Ocean County Jail where he is presently lodged pending a detention hearing.