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2 Arrests Made In Connection With Fatal Shooting At Newburgh Halloween Party: Police

NEWBURGH, N.Y. (CBSNewYork/AP) -- Two suspects have been arrested in connection with a fatal shooting at a Halloween party that left two young upstate New York women dead and five other people suffering from gunshot wounds.

Rainier Hamilton, 21, was arrested on criminal possession of a weapon and tampering with physical evidence charges, police said. Tyson Oliveria, 20, was also arrested and charged with tampering with physical evidence, police said.

According to police, neither suspect is accused of committing the actual shooting. Police said their arrests are related to actions "that assisted the shooter immediately following the incident."

The gunfire erupted around 12:45 a.m. Sunday at a costume party held in an apartment building in the city.

"There was some dude, they were jumping somebody, I don't know his name," one party goer told CBS2's Dave Carlin. "Then another dude came out with a gun, they turned off the lights, started shooting everywhere."

Eighteen-year-old Omani Free and 20-year-old Tabitha Cruz, both of Newburgh, were killed. Five other people were wounded and are expected to recover.

Omani Free
Omani Free, 18, was killed in a shooting at a Halloween party in Newburgh on Sunday, Oct. 30, 2016. (via Facebook)

Rhonda Valentine-Free, Free's mother, said her daughter decided to go to the party when a friend became available on Saturday night.

"She was just at a party, and the next thing I find out, I get a phone call saying my daughter got shot in the head," said Omar Free, Free's father. "I'm devastated right now. It's hard. She's my oldest daughter."

Cruz's father, Miguel Cruz, said his eldest child happily coached young cheerleaders and wanted to become a veterinarian.

Tabitha Cruz
Tabitha Cruz was killed in a shooting at a Halloween party in Newburgh on Sunday, Oct. 30, 2016. (Credit: Tabitha Cruz)

"She was bighearted, everybody knew her, everybody loved her," he said.

Police say at least one suspect fled the scene. Anyone with information was asked to call Newburgh police at (845) 561-3131.

(TM and © Copyright 2016 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2016 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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