NEW ALBANY, Ind. (WDRB) — Opening statements began Thursday in the trial for a Harvest Homecoming shooting suspect.
Isaiah Page, 19, of Simpsonville, Kentucky, is accused of being the shooter that killed 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,
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.
Dustin White, Page's attorney, 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.
Bryce Gerlach, 18, was shot and killed at Harvest Homecoming on Oct. 12, 2024.
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.
Brendan Hagan, pictured with his son, was shot in the leg while attending New Albany's Harvest Homecoming Oct. 12, 2024. (Courtesy: Brendan Hagan family)
Additional defendants
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.
Previous Coverage:
12th defendant sentenced in Harvest Homecoming shooting that killed Bryce Gerlach
Murder charge dropped against suspect charged in Harvest Homecoming shooting
18-year-old Louisville man sentenced in Harvest Homecoming fatal shooting
Harvest Homecoming to implement age limits, security upgrades following 2024 fatal shooting
Louisville man sentenced in fatal Harvest Homecoming shooting in New Albany
Several suspects in fatal Harvest Homecoming shooting avoid trial with plea deals
Louisville man pleads guilty in Harvest Homecoming fatal shooting
5th man charged in murder of southern Indiana teenager at Harvest Homecoming
3 Louisville men charged with murder in Harvest Homecoming shooting case
New Albany residents grateful after 2 people were detained in Harvest Homecoming shooting case
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