In the early hours of October 30, 2016, a Halloween party filled with festive energy turned into a scene of tragedy in Newburgh, New York. Inside a second-floor art gallery space at 119 Broadway, where about 100 people had gathered, gunfire suddenly erupted at approximately 12:45 a.m. Amid the chaos, multiple shots were fired, striking seven individuals. When the violence subsided, two young women lay dead, their lives cut short in an act of senseless violence.
One of the victims was 20-year-old Tabitha C. 'Tabby' Cruz. The other deceased victim was identified as 18-year-old Omani Free. Five other people at the party were also wounded by the gunfire but were expected to survive.
Tabitha, a resident of Newburgh, was a beloved figure in her community. She was a student at Ulster County Community College with aspirations of becoming a veterinarian. Known for her big heart, she also dedicated her time to coaching young cheerleaders. Her father, Miguel Cruz, remembered her as someone everybody knew and loved. The sudden and violent end to her promising life left her family and the wider Newburgh community in profound grief and shock.
The investigation into the deadly shooting commenced immediately, involving the City of Newburgh Police, New York State Police, and the Orange County District Attorney's Office. In the days following the incident, authorities made two arrests. Rainier Hamilton, 21, and Tyson Oliveira, 20, both from Newburgh, were taken into custody. However, police clarified that these two men were not accused of carrying out the shooting itself. Hamilton was charged with criminal possession of a weapon and tampering with physical evidence, while Oliveira was charged with tampering with physical evidence.
As the investigation progressed, a primary suspect in the murders was identified. Law enforcement began a search for 17-year-old Nija A. Johnson, who was officially wanted for second-degree murder in connection with the deaths of Tabitha Cruz and Omani Free. It was alleged that after Johnson opened fire into the crowd, Hamilton, who had been dating Cruz for a few weeks and attended the party with her, disarmed him. Security footage reportedly showed Hamilton carrying the handgun used in the shooting into a back room with Johnson, and the weapon was later discovered outside a window of that room.
