Local man charged in stabbing death

NAPLES – A Naples man is in custody following the stabbing death of Rocky Harper on Sunday, July 2.
Naples police were called to the 100 block of Cypress Avenue at approximately 8:30 a.m. where police say Harper, 26, and Kenneth Whetstone Jr., 33, had been out together in the early hours of the morning and had returned to the residence when heated words were exchanged.
Whetstone then allegedly drew a knife and stabbed Harper in the chest, according to Naples Police Chief Tommy Hunt.
According to Hunt, the longtime friends had a disagreement that turned deadly.
“Emotions got high, feelings got involved,” said Chief Hunt, “and an individual lost control over those emotions. It wasn’t over a drug deal, it wasn’t over money.”
Harper later died from his wounds.
Whetstone did not leave the residence and was arrested by police. He was charged with murder and is currently being held in the Morris County Jail.