Raniek Mendez dies in fatal Toms River stabbing

Raniek Mendez dies in fatal Toms River stabbing

Fatal Toms River stabbing death of Raniek Mendez – Obituary

Raniek Mendez, 34, of Brick, was killed during a violent altercation inside a Toms River home on May 9. According to court testimony on May 28, Steven McNeill, 32, of Jackson, is claiming he acted in self-defense when he stabbed Mendez and another man during the early morning confrontation.

During the detention hearing, McNeill’s lawyer, Francis Hodgson, argued that his client was not the aggressor but a victim who acted to protect himself. Hodgson referenced New Jersey’s “Castle Doctrine,” which permits the use of deadly force for self-defense inside one’s residence. He contended that McNeill was staying overnight at his girlfriend’s residence on Adams Avenue, making the doctrine applicable in this case.

However, Ocean County Assistant Prosecutor Alyssa Mandara countered that the Castle Doctrine does not apply because McNeill did not live at the address. She stated that the residence belonged to Roderick Seward, 30, who brought Mendez to the home that morning.

According to the prosecution, Mendez was attempting to intervene in a conflict between McNeill and Seward when the fatal stabbing occurred. Mandara emphasized that McNeill’s girlfriend, identified only as D.F., told investigators that the stabbing took place before a firearm was displayed, undermining the self-defense claim.

McNeill allegedly told D.F. during a jailhouse phone call that he was “looking down the barrel of a gun,” suggesting he feared for his life. Still, Mandara argued that this was contradicted by D.F.’s earlier police statements.

Authorities said McNeill stabbed Mendez three times—in the chest and torso—and wounded Seward. After the incident, McNeill fled, and Hodgson claimed Seward pursued him, fired a gun, and attempted to run him down with a vehicle. The prosecution maintains there’s no proof that McNeill was shot at.

Seward, a cousin of McNeill’s girlfriend along with Mendez, was later found in possession of cocaine and charged with drug offenses. Despite these charges, he remains free, and the prosecutor said his drug case is unrelated to McNeill’s detention status.

Judge Wendel E. Daniels has yet to decide whether McNeill will remain in custody as he awaits trial for murder, attempted murder, weapons violations, and eluding police. He directed both legal teams to file briefs discussing how the Castle Doctrine might influence the case before issuing a ruling.