Defense claims evidence doesn't prove who fired fatal shot in Harvest Homecoming murder

NEW ALBANY, Ind. (WDRB) — The defense in Isaiah Page's murder trial rested its case Thursday, arguing the evidence isn't strong enough proving Page fired the shot that killed Bryce Gerlach at Harvest Homecoming.

Throughout this trial, that's been a common issue for the prosecution: Only a few witnesses so far said they saw Page fire a gun. But two said he shot into the air.

An Indiana State Police sergeant said investigators found two 40-caliber shell casings in the area where Page was seen that night. And the prosecution used that testimony to argue the higher elevations of that area — referred to as "the fountain area" — would've given a shooter a much better vantage point.

The sergeant said he examined the scene and calculated where the bullet could have come from thanks to a 3D reconstruction investigators made of the scene. To create that 3D mode officers took 19 scans of areas at Harvest Homecoming. But they didn't get a scan of the fountain area, meaning they didn't have a detailed point of view of where Page was standing.

The defense argued investigators can’t be certain the bullet came from Page without those exact details.

Page faces several charges, including one related to gang activity, but none of Williams' testimony spoke to the murder charge. She also didn't see who fired the shots that injured two people and killed Bryce Gerlach.

Closing arguments will begin at 8:30 a.m. Friday.

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

Background

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 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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