CITY OF NEWBURGH – A City of Newburgh teenager is wanted for second-degree murder and two city men were charged with assisting the shooter in the Halloween party rampage that left a woman and a Newburgh Free Academy senior dead and five others injured on Sunday morning, police said.

Police are offering a $2,500 reward for information leading to the capture and conviction of Nija Johnson, 17. He is wanted in connection with the shooting at 119 Broadway, which occurred around 12:43 a.m. and ended with the deaths of Tabitha Cruz, 20, and Omani Free, an 18-year-old NFA senior.

Police have arrested Rainier Hamilton, 21, and Tyson Oliveira, 20, accusing both of aiding the shooter in the aftermath of the incident. Neither is accused of participating in the shooting, which police said involved a handgun.

Free was excited about graduating, and planned to study to be a dancer, according to Rhonda Valentine-Free, her mother.

“She didn’t deserve to go like that,” she said.

On Monday Hamilton pleaded not guilty before Newburgh City Court Judge Paul Trachte on charges of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon and tampering with physical evidence, both felonies.

Prosecutors had sought $100,000 cash bail and $200,000 bond. But Trachte set bail at $50,000, cash or bond, and scheduled a preliminary hearing for Thursday.

Oliveira, who was charged with felony evidence tampering in the shooting, also pleaded not guilty before Trachte. His bail was also set at $50,000 cash or bond and he is due back in court on Nov. 17.

Hamilton’s relatives and friends packed Trachte’s courtroom on Monday, and exploded in anger and tears as he set bail for a man they said was dating Cruz.

They accuse police of unjustly charging Hamilton, and claim that he actually disarmed the shooter and prevented more deaths and injuries.

“If Rainier was not there, there’d probably be more children dead,” said Natasha Dennis, his aunt. “They (witnesses) say he rushed the shooter, knocking him down.”

Hamilton is also facing charges in Orange County Court.

He was one of three men charged Dec. 1, 2015, with felony weapons possession and misdemeanor drug possession. Police said they were found sitting in a car with a loaded 9mm handgun and pieces of crack cocaine.

Hamilton’s next appearance for that arrest is scheduled for Jan. 12, according to court records.

It is not clear who hosted the party, but it was apparently held on the ground floor of 119 Broadway and drew both teenagers and adults.

During an anti-violence rally attended by scores of young people on Monday afternoon, Sydney Ciaccio, 17, said she was initially planning to attend the party.

“I got bad vibes from it, so I just didn’t go,” she said.

Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to contact City of Newburgh police at 561-3131 or the department's anonymous tip line at 569-7555.

lsparks@th-record.com