Defense challenges identification of shooter as closing arguments begin in 2024 Harvest Homecoming killing trial
Case centers on who fired the fatal shot at a crowded Southern Indiana festival
Closing arguments began Friday in the Floyd County murder trial of Isaiah Page, accused of firing the shot that killed 18-year-old Bryce Gerlach during the Harvest Homecoming festival in New Albany on Oct. 12, 2024. Prosecutors have argued the shooting stemmed from a confrontation between groups near the festival’s ride area and that Gerlach and two other people struck by gunfire were innocent bystanders.
Gerlach, a Corydon Central High School senior, was shot in the chest and died from his injuries. Two others were injured: Brendan Hagan, who was shot in the leg while walking to a restroom, and Michele Nashi, who was shot while waiting for children to get off a carnival ride.
Competing narratives: process-of-elimination versus uncertainty
In closing arguments, prosecutors told jurors they built their case by eliminating other potential shooters and tying Page to the gunfire through a combination of witness accounts, digital evidence and forensic reconstruction. They argued Page matched a clothing description from the night of the shooting and pointed to materials recovered from his phone, including a note prosecutors characterized as an admission: “I shot and made the news.”
The state has also argued the incident was connected to gang activity, presenting social media posts, messages and other content it says demonstrate Page’s ties to a gang culture and familiarity with firearms. Investigators testified that a gun believed to have been used in the shooting was never recovered.
The defense countered that the evidence does not prove beyond a reasonable doubt who fired the fatal shot. Defense attorneys emphasized that multiple shooters were suspected that night and highlighted limits in identification evidence, including that not all physical evidence from the scene was directly tied to Page.
Reconstruction evidence and disputes over bullet trajectory
Jurors heard testimony about crime-scene reconstruction that sought to determine the most likely origin of the fatal shot. The defense attempted to challenge the state’s trajectory theory by suggesting other firing positions could align with the fatal wound angle, but the court restricted parts of that questioning and indicated the defense would need its own expert to validate certain measurements.
Trial testimony included gang evidence and surveillance footage
During the state’s final witnesses earlier this week, a New Albany police detective testified that several gangs were present at Harvest Homecoming that night and described how investigators interpret signs, symbols and online posts. The defense called private investigators who reviewed surveillance video that captured people running and a muzzle flash in the distance; one investigator testified he could not positively identify a firearm from the clip.
Related cases and what comes next
Authorities have previously said multiple people were involved in the broader 사건, and more than a dozen individuals have been sentenced in connection with the shooting. Some co-defendants reached plea agreements, while disputes remained over who fired the shot that killed Gerlach.
After closing arguments, the case is expected to be submitted to the jury for deliberations.
Key unresolved issue for jurors: whether the evidence establishes beyond a reasonable doubt that Page fired the shot that killed Bryce Gerlach.
- Date of shooting: Oct. 12, 2024
- Location: Harvest Homecoming festival ride area, New Albany, Indiana
- Defendant: Isaiah Page
- Victim: Bryce Gerlach, 18