Support continues for family of teen murdered at Harvest Homecoming as police search for his killer

NEW ALBANY, Ind. (WDRB) -- The southern Indiana community is showing support for the family of a teenager who was shot and killed at Harvest Homecoming last weekend as police continue to search for the shooter or shooters.

There are still no suspects in the triple shooting Saturday night that killed an 18-year-old and hurt two others. New Albany Police believe the shooting happened near the YMCA at Main and State streets just before 10 p.m. A handful of investigators were still on scene Tuesday looking at a nearby park bench, walking through the YMCA parking lot and even seemingly pointing to possible cameras on the side of the building.

When asked, New Albany Police Chief Todd Bailey said there are no plans at this time to release video, if there's any, of the shooting and its aftermath.

Saturday night's shooting brought a tragic ending to this year's Harvest Homecoming festival that takes over several streets in downtown New Albany every year. Dozens of vendors and businesses take part in the event.

"After the first couple shots, we all just kind of ran, and I just kind of panicked," a witness said.

Police believe there was an argument between two groups of people that led to shots being fired just before 10 p.m. The gunfire hit three bystanders near the carnival rides adjacent to the YMCA. Bryce Gerlach, an 18-year-old senior at Corydon Central High School, died at the hospital after the shooting.

Bailey said Monday a 22-year-old man remains in the hospital with "serious" injuries after being shot in the "lower extremities," but his injuries aren't thought to be life-threatening. And a 42-year-old woman, Bailey said, also had a wound to her lower extremities and has been treated and released.

Bailey said after the shooting at least two suspects, described as Black males in their late teens to early 20s, ran from the scene.

Investigators initially thought the shots were fired from the area behind the Scribner House at State and Main streets, and from the parking lot of the Floyd County YMCA, which is also located at State and Main streets. Bailey said investigators believe there may have been another individual firing from within the area where carnival rides were set up.

The New Albany and Corydon communities continue to show their support for the victims.

Hundreds turned out for a candlelight vigil at the high school Sunday night, and New Albany bakery Rookie's Cookies offered a portion of its sales to benefit the families. Its supply sold out in about two hours Tuesday.

Rookie's Cookies in New Albany, Indiana — Pictured: this frame grab taken from video shows the storefront of Rookie's Cookies located at 310 Pearl Street in New Albany, Ind. (WDRB image)

Sarah De La Torre said Gerlach was a regular at Rita's Taco Shop in Corydon, where she is a manager. She said the Mexican restaurant will donate all the money from every order of Gerlach's favorite meal — a dish called ACP — to his family.

"We decided to do it for his family, because it's not something you would ever think of to happen here in such a small town, too, and we love our community, so we do what we can to help," De Le Torre said.

From benefits to meal trains and grocery collection, the community is stepping up to support the family.

BRYCE GERLACH - COURTESY FAMILY.jpg — Bryce Gerlach, 18, was shot and killed at Harvest Homecoming on Oct. 12, 2024.

On Friday, the Corydon Central football team will take the field in Gerlach's honor on what would have been his senior night. The public is invited to wear blue and fill the stands.

Anyone with any information related to the shooting is asked to call New Albany Police at 812-944-6411.

Gerlach's visitation is set for Oct. 17 at First Capital Christian Church in Corydon from noon to 8 p.m., and Saturday from 9-11 a.m.

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