An 18-year-old high school football star who protected others from a shooting at an Indiana fall festival has been posthumously hailed as a hero.
Corydon Central High School senior Bryce Gerlach was shot and killed during an altercation between at least two different groups that escalated into violence Saturday night at the Harvest Homecoming Festival in New Albany, Indiana.
Gerlach was one of three witnesses struck during the shooting and is believed to have shielded others in the group from a hail of bullets. According to WAVE.
Gerlach's close friend Tanner Chumley told the magazine: “What he did was very selfless. We're grateful that he went out in a heroic way. People remember him because he was a hero.”
The shootings began just before 10 p.m. Saturday near State Street and Black Avenue, where festival rides were set up, less than a block from the Ohio River and the Indiana-Kentucky border.
Police said “multiple gunmen” likely fired from different directions before attacking innocent bystanders.
“Our initial belief is that all of the people shot and killed in this incident were completely unrelated to the conflict that led to this incident,” said New Albany Police Chief Todd Bailey. at a press conference Sunday morning.
Bailey identified the person of interest as a black male in his teens or early 20s, but no arrests have been made in the shooting.
The suspects, who fled the scene, are considered a danger to the public.
“Any reasonable person looking at the reckless nature of their actions would say, 'Yes, these are dangerous people,'” Bailey said.
Albany's new mayor, Jeff Gahan, condemned Gerlach's murderer and gun violence.
“We have enjoyed a safe Harvest Homecoming for nearly 57 years, but sadly this type of gun violence is now all too common across the country.” Gahan said. “Gun violence at a family festival is a heartbreaking tragedy, and our country must find a way to come together to stop this type of violence.”
In addition to Gerlach, the shooting also injured Brendan Hagan and a 42-year-old woman.
Hagan was with his girlfriend and 10-month-old son when he heard a group of teens arguing in a nearby parking lot.
As the shooting began, the 22-year-old began to walk away.
“I heard the gunshots go off.” Hagan told WAVE. From the hospital. “It was either the first or second shot that hit me in the leg. At that point, I was on the ground for maybe half a second, but my adrenaline went through the roof all at once, so I stood up on my left leg and got out of the way. I no longer do it.”
The bullet hit an artery and he was rapidly losing blood by the time his shirt was used as a tourniquet on his leg.
He was hospitalized in critical condition.
The unidentified woman was struck in the “lower leg” and was treated and released.
Sunday's Harvest Homecoming event was canceled due to the shooting incident.
On Friday, Garchan was scheduled to play his final home soccer game as part of his senior farewell party, as Gachan and his father were actively searching for colleges to play and attend.
“His father told me he was going to meet this week to talk with a recruiter about where he would play at the collegiate level,” says Mark Eastridge, superintendent of the South Harrison Community School Corporation. told WDRB.
Gerchan's father condemned the “evil” shooting incident that claimed his son's life.
“His father told me this was an example of evil not winning,” Eastridge said. “Goodness and love will prevail.”
Eastridge said people in the district are struggling with Gurchan's death because of the circumstances.
“It becomes even more difficult for the school to respond when a young man who was just out to have fun with his friends at a local festival has had his purity and life taken away from him by senseless violence,” and the school community. ” Eastridge told WAVE.
