Prosecutors outline what led them to arrest 19-year-old charged with Harvest Homecoming murder

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Prosecutors in the trial of Isaiah Page, accused of shooting and killing a teenager at Harvest Homecoming in 2024, said he wasn't even on investigators' radar until weeks after the shooting.

In court Friday, the trial continued for Page, 19, of Simpsonville, Kentucky, who's charged with killing 18-year-old Bryce Gerlach at the festival in 2024. Page is charged with murder, attempted murder, aggravated battery, criminal recklessness and two other offenses related to use of a firearm and gang activity.

A panel of 15 jurors, three women and 12 men, was sworn in Wednesday.

The grandmother of one of the other suspects was the first to mention Page's name to police. That was on Oct. 30, 18 days after the shooting. Soon after, police got a warrant to search Page's residence, where Detective Phil Kaiser said they found a black backpack and a mask. Witnesses had told investigators the shooter wore all black, including a ski mask, and pulled the gun out of a black backpack.

Isaiah Page is accused of being the alleged shooter that killed 18-year-old Bryce Gerlach at the festival event in 2024.

During opening statements, Floyd County Prosecutor Chris Lane said Page intended to "kill another member of a group but missed," hitting Gerlach. Lane also said Page, dressed in all black with a backpack, was at an elevated level, at the Scribner House at State and Main streets, when he fired six shots onto the groups of people at the ride area.

A gun was never recovered from the scene.

The prosecution said evidence from matched shell casings show Page used a .40 caliber gun, which they believe he took with him after the shooting. They argue the shooting was pulled off by several people, three rival "groups." The defense argues many of those people went to Harvest Homecoming with the intent to "confront their ops."

Page's lead council, Dustin White, asked Kaiser if any of those people knew his client. Kaiser said they didn't.

White then argued self-defense and that some of the witnesses — who have now been convicted — may have minimized their involvement to police to get lesser charges. He argues Page may be a scapegoat.

White told the jury during opening statements "we may never know who fired and tragically took a life" and that evidence will show no one knows who killed Gerlach. White said there's no DNA or gun nor videos or photos linking Page to the shooting.

Instead, the defense turned to alternative suspects, some of which have already been sentenced in connection to this shooting.

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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