NEW ALBANY, Ind. (WDRB) — The man found guilty of murdering 18-year-old Bryce Gerlach at Harvest Homecoming in 2024 was sentenced Thursday to 190 years in prison.

In February, a jury found Isaiah Page guilty of murdering Gerlach at the New Albany, Indiana, fall festival in October 2024. Gerlach’s girlfriend stood beside him when those shots rang out.

During Thurday's sentencing hearing, the judge said Page never showed remorse.

BRYCE GERLACH.jpeg

Bryce Gerlach was shot and killed at Harvest Homecoming in New Albany, Indiana, in October 2024.

"Nothing prevented him from walking away from the scene," the judge said, adding Page was unprovoked. "He was a good distance away."

The judge told Page witnesses to the shooting "will be traumatized by your actions."

During Page's trial, Gerlach's girlfriend broke down on the stand, saying their "anniversary was the day he died." She now calls it the "most traumatic moment" of her life.

Prosecutors argued it all started with gang violence. They said Page went to Harvest Homecoming to shoot someone in a "rival gang" but missed.

During closing arguments, prosecutor Liz Stigdon told jurors, "Bryce didn't have a choice that night. He had no chance and he is dead because of the defendant's choices."

Investigators said several people opened fire that night. But one-by-one, prosecutors ruled out other suspects.

Witnesses described seeing a gunman dressed in black while carrying a backpack.

Inside Page’s dorm, investigators found a black ski mask, clothing, and a backpack that matched those descriptions.

They also pulled messages from Page's phone.

Days after the shooting, Page wrote "this ain’t no regular gun. It’s a hot one" and "I shot my gun and made the news."

The defense pushed back by calling it all "circumstantial evidence."

Police never found the murder weapon. No pictures, video or DNA ever tied Page to the scene.

They argued other leads were never fully pursued including Darius Tuff, who is serving 37 years for shooting two other bystanders that night.

"There were bullets flying everywhere," said Dustin White, with the Floyd County Public Defender's Office. "It was absolutely chaotic in that area, and we are just trying to convey that there is more than one option here in respect to how Mr. Gerlach died."

But after 12 days of testimony and four hours of deliberation, the jury reached its verdict.

He was found guilty on all counts: murder, attempted murder, attempted aggravated battery and criminal recklessness.

Page also faces two sentencing enhancements for use of a firearm and gang activity which could significantly increase his prison time.

That again can up to double the murder charge on time, "so we're very grateful for that," Lane said.

"We'll see what happens if there's any appeals or anything down the road," said Coy Travis, with the Floyd County Public Defender's Office.

Cameras were not allowed in the courtroom for this trial. Throughout the past three weeks, Page remained composed.

But after hearing the verdict and the enhancements, he reacted by violently shaking his head and saying the case was stacked against him from the start.

"He just got hit with some life-changing news," White said. "When anyone receives news like that, they have to process that."

"We've spent the last 16 months pursuing justice, and we're so thankful that on this long road — we've come to the end," Lane said.

Page is the 13th person charged in connection to this tragedy. 

Background

The shooting happened in the ride area in the middle of the packed annual Harvest Homecoming fall festival the evening of Oct. 12, 2024. Gerlach, a Corydon Central High School senior, was killed, and two other people were injured. Police have said all three were innocent bystanders who weren't involved in an alleged argument that broke out between two groups of people, which police believe led to the shooting. 

Brendan Hagan, a 22-year-old father, was shot when walking to the restroom. Michele Nashi, a single mother, was shot while waiting for her son and his friend to get off a carnival ride. Both survived the shooting. 

Twelve other people have already been sentenced in connection to the shooting.

Shermichael Smith was sentenced in November to nine years in prison for his role in the shooting. Smith pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting in two of the shootings. The charge came with a five-year gun enhancement. A murder charge was dropped by Indiana prosecutors against Smith in July 2025. Smith provided the vehicle that took others from Louisville to where the shooting happened, and his defense attorney argued that he got caught up in the chaos of the shooting.

Smith's cousin, Joshua Smith, of Louisville, was sentenced in March to more than seven years in prison after agreeing to a plea deal in February. Joshua Smith originally faced 11 charges in connection to the shooting, including murder. However, he pleaded guilty to a single charge of conspiracy to armed robbery. As part of his plea deal, Joshua Smith is required to testify in ongoing cases connected to the shooting. He will also have about two years of probation following his release.

Darius Tuff, of Louisville, was sentenced in April to 37 years in prison, made up of 16 years each for two aggravated battery charges, and an additional five years for use of a firearm in the crimes. Tuff was not accused of killing Gerlach. Lane recommended the 37-year sentence as part of Tuff's plea agreement after he pleaded guilty in February.

Officials said Joshua Smith, Tuff, and Shermichael Smith were all roommates. 

Damarius Gardiner Person, 18, of Louisville, was sentenced to six years in prison in May after pleading guilty to multiple charges in connection with the shooting, including assisting a criminal and obstruction of justice. He was initially charged with murder, aggravated battery, assisting a criminal and obstruction of justice.

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