Lakewood Man Charged In Toms River Stabbing Death

A 20-year-old Lakewood man has been charged with murder in connection with a fatal stabbing in Toms River.

Steven Rosado has been charged in connection with the death of a man identified by multiple sources as Kevin Copes, 24 of Lakewood, Ocean County Prosecutor Marlene Lynch Ford announced Sunday.

Toms River police were called to Community Medical Center about 1 a.m. Saturday after Copes was brought to the emergency room by friends for treatment of stab wounds.

“Toms River police immediately commenced an investigation into the incident, together with homicide detectives from the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office,” Ford said. “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.”

The initial investigation indicated that the stabbing may have occurred near or at the Briar Knolls Apartment Complex, police said.

Honorable James N. Blaney, J.S.C. has set bail at $750,000 with no 10% option.

 It was unknown whether the stabbing was related to the that occurred late Friday night.

In that incident, a man was shot during a large birthday party for a 21-year-old man around 11:30 p.m. The victim ran to neighbors for help and was subsequently taken to Jersey Shore University Medical Center's trauma unit in Neptune for treatment.

Anyone with information about this crime is requested to contact Sgt. Carlos Trujillo-Tovar of the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office at 732-929-2027, or the Toms River Township Police Department at 732-349-0150.