Lakewood Man Found Guilty Of Attempted Murder In Stabbing

An Ocean County jury has found a Berkeley Township man guilty of attempted murder in the August 2014 stabbing of a Lakewood man,

Marco Tulio Alvarez Lopez faces up to 20 years in state prison when he is sentenced on Dec. 18, Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Capt. Jack Sramaty said.

Lakewood Officer Kevin Seunath responded to a stabbing at 346 Laurel Avenue on Aug. 23, 2014. He found victim Mario Vasquez, on his hands and knees in front of the house, bleeding profusely from his abdominal area, he said.

Further investigation determined that Vasquez had been stabbed by his roommate, who was later identified as Lopez. Vasquez was taken to Jersey Shore Medical Center where he underwent immediate surgery for life-threatening injuries. Vasquez’s surgeon testified at trial that the surgery was necessary to save Vasquez’s life.

Detectives from the Prosecutor’s Office and Lakewood police learned that earlier that evening, Vasquez’s roommate was upstairs in their shared bedroom drinking with a friend. When Vasquez entered the room to change out of his work clothes, Lopez asked him for $50. When Vasquez refused, Lopez came back with a large kitchen knife and stabbed him, Sramaty said.

Detective Stephen Capoano from the Ocean County Sheriff’s Department’s Crime Scene Unit recovered the knife which was missing its handle and still covered in blood.

Two and a half hours after the stabbing, officers saw a shirtless Hispanic male on the front steps of the residence. He was covered in fresh wounds consistent with hiding in a dark wooded area -- like the one that was located behind the residence, Sramaty said.

Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Lieutenant Carlos Trujillo-Tovar and Lakewood Detective Craig Fink interviewed the man, who was determined to be Lopez. Lopez told police he was Vasquez’s roommate, but denied the stabbing, said Sramaty.

Assistant Prosecutor Jamie L. Schron told the jury that argued to the jury that defendant left the victim upstairs to die. Assistant Public Defender Kelly Toner said that Vasquez‘s identification of his assailant was unreliable, Sramaty said.

Lopez must serve at least 85 percent of any custodial term when he is sentenced. He is being held without bail until sentencing.