This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Crime & Safety

Indictment: Man Charged with First Degree Murder in Toms River Stabbing

Steven Rosado of Lakewood being held on $1 million bail on murder charge

A Lakewood man has been charged with first degree murder in the June 2012 death of a Lakewood man in Toms River man, according to an indictment handed up by an Ocean County grand jury this week. 

In addition to being charged with murdering 24-year-old Kevin Copes of Lakewood, Steven Rosado, 21, also faces charges of possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, unlawful possession of a weapon, and obstructing the administration of law, according to the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office. 

Rosado allegedly stabbed Copes in the parking lot of the Briar Knolls apartment complex during a June 29 incident. He then fled to Florida, where he was arrested later days later by Orange County Sheriffs Department.

Find out what's happening in Toms Riverwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

He was arrested on a fugitive warrant, with the original charge being Criminal Homicide With a Knife, out of Ocean County.

The murder charge carries a penalty of up to life imprisonment, according to the prosecutor's office. Senior Assistant Ocean County Prosecutor Laura Pierro is prosecuting the case.

Find out what's happening in Toms Riverwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Fernando Reyes, Jonathan Rosado and Jennyfer Moncada, all 19 and from Lakewood, and Zahid Evans, 24, of Toms River, have been charged with hindering the apprehension of another as they allegedly misled authorities trying to locate Rosado. 

Rosato is currently being held in the Ocean County Jail in lieu of $1 million dollars cash only bail set by Judge James M. Blaney, according to the prosecutor's office. 

Prosecutor Marlyne Lynch Ford said following the incident that police believe Copes was stabbed after getting into a fight with Rosado.

"As a result of that investigation, we determined that Rosado was involved in a fight with the victim and that we believe probable cause has been established to implicate Rosado in connection with the crime,” Ford said in a prepared statement in June.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?

To request removal of your name from an arrest report, submit these required items to arrestreports@patch.com.