18-Year-Old Accused Of Stabbing Man Over Vape Cartridges

TOMS RIVER, NJ — An 18-year-old from Toms River has been charged with attempted murder in the stabbing of a man in the Kmart parking lot on Saturday over what authorities allege was a dispute over THC vaping cartridges, the Ocean County prosecutor's office said Sunday.

Garret Latorre, 18, was found with blood on his hands after Toms River detectives traced a vehicle that left the scene to a Toms River residence, Prosecutor Bradley Billhimer and Toms River Police Chief Mitch Little said in a joint news release.

The man who was stabbed was airlifted to Jersey Shore University Medical Center with stab wounds to his leg, stomach and chest and underwent emergency surgery, the prosecutor's office said. He is listed as stable on Sunday, the release said.

Authorities allege the stabbing happened as the result of a dispute over a transaction involving the THC vaping cartridges. The transaction involved Latorre, the victim and another individual, with Latorre selling the cartridges. THC is the ingredient in marijuana that causes the high and is distilled a liquid for use in vaping pens and e-cigarettes.

Toms River detectives were able to determine the make, model and license plate of a vehicle Latorre used to leave the scene and traced it to the Toms River address where Latorre was found.

Detectives from the prosecutor’s office and Toms River police obtained a search warrant for the home and were able to recover bloody clothes and a knife believed to have been used in the commission of the crime, the prosecutor's office said.

Latorre is charged with attempted murder, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, unlawful possession of a weapon, possession with intent to distribute marijuana (THC vape cartridges) and possession of marijuana (THC vape cartridges). He is being held in the Ocean County Jail pending a detention hearing.

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