The building where two died, five were wounded, at a Halloween party
NEWBURGH – The man, who rented his first-floor business space at 119 Broadway in Newburgh for the Halloween party that turned violent leaving two young women dead, said he wishes he had never rented it for the event. Speaking exclusively to Mid-Hudson News by phone Thursday night, Damel Harrison said he was there when the gunfire rang out. A buddy pulled him to the floor. “It happened so quickly,” he said. When he looked over, he saw the lifeless bodies of Omani Free, 18, and Tabitha Cruz, 20, on the ground. They had been shot and killed while five others sustained gunshot wounds, but survived.
Police continue to look for a suspect they have identified as the shooter – Nija Johnson, 17, of Newburgh.
Harrison is devastated about what happened.
“I feel horrible,” he told Mid-Hudson News. “I wish I never rented them. If I could take that night back in, I would do it totally different.”
Harrison had previously rented his space to the same college student who rented it this time. The first time was for a children’s party. There were no problems, he said.
He said about 60 people were there at the height of the Halloween gathering and the young man who rented the space told him the party was by invitation only. An off-duty police officer stood at the door checking everyone as they came in, Harrison said. “Everyone was having fun. There was no indication that the mood of the event was swinging to the negative.”
Harrison does not have a bar on the premises and did not serve liquor, but he could not say if partygoers brought any with them.
The Free family has set up a GoFundMe page to raise money for funeral expenses for Omani. Harrison spoke with her father, told him what had transpired, and offered his condolences, he said. As of Thursday, he was unable to contact the family of Tabitha Cruz.
