CITY OF NEWBURGH – A 35-year-old Honduran man who died after being shot Saturday night near Liberty and Clinton streets was an innocent bystander attending a birthday party, Newburgh city police said.

A group of about 10 people were hanging out at a house on Liberty Street, near Clinton Street, when a person walking by fired shots from a pistol and ran away at about 11:15 p.m., Det. Lt. Joseph Burns said on Monday.

Burns declined to say how many shots were fired, but 18-year-old Almighty Ward suffered gunshot wounds to his hip and elbow.

Another bullet traveled along the west side of Liberty Street, across the Clinton Street intersection, and into the neck of Amed Alberto Alvarado-Baquedano, Burns said, noting that Alvarado-Baquedano and Ward were about 100 yards from each other.

Alvarado-Baquedano was taken by ambulance to St. Luke’s Cornwall Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead, police said.

“He was actually at a birthday party,” Burns said at city police headquarters on Grand Street. “There was a piñata. He was a true, innocent bystander.”

Ward was taken to St. Luke’s Cornwall Hospital in a police cruiser, according to a news release from police issued Sunday. Burns said Ward ended up refusing medical attention.

“We’re being told that he told the staff there that he wanted to smoke a cigarette and go meet his girlfriend and he walked out,” Burns said.

Police are exploring multiple leads in search of the suspect, Burns said, adding that Ward is not cooperating with the investigation. Police believe there was only one shooter and that Ward, or somebody with him that night, was targeted.

Burns said city police are working with a federal partner in the investigation, though it was too soon to announce the name of the partner. Police are offering a $2,500 reward for information about the incident that can lead to the arrest and conviction of a suspect.

Anyone with information can call City of Newburgh Police’s Detective Division 569-7509. Callers can remain anonymous.

“We’re very disheartened that someone who was just celebrating a birthday party, or whatever kind of party it was, and had nothing to do with this, is now dead,” Burns said. “If anyone has any information, if they could share it with us, we would greatly appreciate it.”

lbellamy@th-record.com