Toms River Stabbing Suspect Arrested in Florida

A Lakewood man wanted for murder in Toms River was apprehended Monday in Florida.

Steven Rosado, 20, was charged Sunday with murder by the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office.

According to records at the Orange County Incarcerations Department in Florida, Rosado was arrested 2:20 p.m. July 2 by the Orange County Sheriffs Department.

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

Prosecutor Marlene Lynch Ford said an investigation found "probable cause" that in the Briar Knolls apartment complex parking lot.

Copes, 24, of Lakewood, later died from his injuries after friends transported him to Community Medical Center, 1:30 a.m. Saturday, police said.

Ford said Sunday 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 released Sunday.

Ocean County Judge James N. Blaney set Rosado's bail at $750,000 with no 10 percent option on Sunday.

Ocean County Executive Assistant Prosecutor Michel Paulhus said yesterday the investigation into the stabbing, as well as a shooting on Gilford Avenue an hour prior, was open and continuing.