LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Three Louisville men were charged with murder in connection to the fatal shooting at this year's Harvest Homecoming festival in downtown New Albany.
Joshua Smith, Shermichael Smith, and their roommate, Darius Tuff, are all facing murder and several other charges in the death of Bryce Gerlach, 18, and wounding of two others, according to court records.Â
During a press conference Tuesday afternoon, officials said a fourth man has also been charged. Isaiah Page, of Simpsonville, is charged with attempted murder, aggravated battery and two counts of criminal recklessness.
A 22-year-old man and a 42-year-old woman were both shot in the leg and hospitalized. Police believe all three victims were innocent bystanders who were not related to the dispute that led to the shooting.
In court records unsealed Tuesday, police were called to the Oct. 12 festival after shots were fired in the "ride area."
Gerlach was found inside the ride area with a gunshot wound to his chest. He died at the scene.
On Oct. 27, Joshua Smith confessed to a New Albany Police detective to shooting his firearm into the air while at the ride area, according to an affidavit for probable cause that was unsealed Tuesday. He was arrested in October on lesser charges while the other two men were charged in November.
Police seized a gun from Smith's residence and a bullet matched a casing found at the scene, according to police.Â
"The location from which Joshua Smith fired his weapon had direct line-of-sight to where Bryce Gerlach landed and succumbed to his fatal gunshot," police wrote in the affidavit.Â
Shermichael Smith admitted to having his handgun, taking cover behind a vehicle where the three spent casings were recovered in the northern part of the parking lot Oct. 12 and driving his brother from the scene, according to the affidavit.
A witness told police Shermichael Smith shot his firearm in the direction of two victims. Â
Tuff is accused of driving the men to the festival and a witness told police Tuff also fired a gun.
Police have said they believe there was an ongoing dispute between "at least two groups of individuals" that led to shots being fired by multiple people.Â
Floyd County Prosecutor Chris Lane said Page fired the first shot. Police would not say if Page was firing at any of the Louisville men.Â
In the affidavits, police found a text thread the day after the shooting where Joshua Smith blamed a man for him previously getting robbed and his home shot up.Â
Joshua Smith texted, "Not what think was gonna rob him last night but then (he) started shootin at all of us," according to the affidavit. Smith denied shooting anyone, saying he ran, according to the texts. Page is not the man named in the texts.Â
Joshua Smith is charged with murder, two counts of attempted murder, conspiracy to commit robbery, aggravated battery, criminal recklessness, obstruction of justice, resisting law enforcement and criminal mischief.
Tuff is charged with murder, two counts of attempted murder, conspiracy to commit armed robbery and aggravated battery.Â
Shermichael Smith is charged with murder, two counts of attempted murder, conspiracy to commit armed robbery, aggravated robbery and criminal recklessness.Â
Joshua Smith and Tuff are in custody in Indiana.
Shermichael Smith was in court in Jefferson County on Tuesday morning and waived extradition to Floyd County.
City officials said four arrests have been made in connection to the shooting so far but more charges are expected. Â
Gerlach was a senior at Corydon Central High School, where he was also on the football team.
This story may be updated.
Harvest Homecoming Shooting Coverage:
- New Albany residents grateful after 2 people were detained in Harvest Homecoming shooting case
- Community honors Corydon football player shot and killed at Harvest Homecoming
- Father of teenager shot and killed at Harvest Homecoming says 'good and love will triumph'
- 18-year-old shot and killed at Harvest Homecoming was 'innocent bystander,' police say
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