Bryce Gerlach, an 18-year-old high school football player, is being remembered as a hero after he was killed while protecting others during a shooting at a fall festival in Indiana. The incident occurred at the Harvest Homecoming Festival in New Albany on Saturday night when an argument between two groups escalated into violence. Gerlach, a senior at Corydon Central High School, was one of three bystanders hit during the shooting. Witnesses believe he was shielding others from the gunfire.
Tanner Chumly, a close friend of Gerlach, expressed his gratitude for Gerlach’s selfless act. He said that Gerlach’s heroic actions were a testament to his character and that he would be remembered as a hero.
The shooting took place near State Street and Black Avenue, where the festival’s rides were located, just a block away from the Ohio River and the Indiana-Kentucky border. The police believe there were multiple shooters firing from different directions, hitting innocent bystanders. New Albany Police Chief Todd Bailey stated that the victims were not involved in the initial dispute that led to the shooting.
The suspects, described as Black males in their teens and early 20s, fled the scene and are considered a public threat due to the reckless nature of their actions. No arrests have been made yet.
New Albany Mayor Jeff Gahan expressed his disappointment over the incident, stating that the Harvest Homecoming had been a safe event for nearly 57 years. He called the gun violence at a family festival heartbreaking and tragic, urging the country to find a solution to such violence.
In addition to Gerlach, Brendan Hagan and a 42-year-old woman were also injured in the shooting. Hagan, who was with his girlfriend and 10-month-old son, was hit in the leg while trying to escape the gunfire. The woman, who was hit in her lower extremities, has been treated and released.
Gerlach was set to play his final home football game on Friday as part of a senior send-off. He and his father were actively exploring college options. His father condemned the shooting as an act of evil but expressed his belief that good and love would triumph.
The school community is grappling with Gerlach’s death, with South Harrison Community School Corporation Superintendent Mark Eastridge stating that the senseless violence that took Gerlach’s life has made it even more difficult for the school community to cope.