NEW ALBANY, Ind. — Brendan Hagan attended New Albany's Harvest Homecoming last Saturday hoping to spend a relaxing evening with his family. However, an altercation outside the festival that night escalated into gunfire and forever changed the community.
Hagan and two other innocent bystanders, New Albany mother Michele Nashi and 18-year-old Bryce Gerlach, were struck with bullets. Gerlach, a senior football player at Corydon Central High School, was fatally hit.
"Literally none of those people were even touched in that altercation," Hagan told WHAS11 from his hospital bed on Friday.
The young father called it "the most unluckiest thing in the world."
"I just don't know. It just doesn't make sense to me," he said, recalling the fatal shooting.
Hagan said he was on his way to use a portable bathroom when he noticed some commotion and then gunfire. He said he immediately dropped to the ground after feeling a bullet go through his leg.
People nearby helped him before first responders could arrive.
"It's just ridiculous, like I just wanted to go there and chill with my family and then I had to leave out with literally a bullet through my leg," Hagan said.
Michele Nashi was also hit in the leg by one of the bullets. Although she didn't want to speak out directly, she allowed he longtime friend Derrick Larner to speak for her.
He said Nashi called him from the ambulance. He then drove down from Indianapolis to be by her side.
"She told me not to panic but I did," Larner said, adding that Nashi has been through a lot over the past year. "She lost her son to a [car] accident in May and now this."
Hagan is glad to be alive, but is upset that the reckless gunfire took the life of a promising teen set to graduate next year.
"I'm blessed for sure on my end," Hagan said. "I just really wish there would have been more blessing on other people, like that kid Bryce."
Larner said Nashi doesn't feel like a victim in the shooting.
"In her words verbatim is she got to draw the long straw and Bryce's family and Bryce don't get that," Larner said, adding that she would want those who chose to shoot their guns to think about the lives they've impacted.
The New Albany Police Department (NAPD) said the shooting remains under investigation, adding that progress has been made. Chief Todd Bailey says at least two groups were involved in the dispute leading up to the fatal shooting.
"Our team has worked tirelessly since the incident to bring those responsible for this senseless act to justice. Due to the ongoing nature of the investigation many details can't be released," Bailey said.
Anyone with information on the shooting is still encouraged to call the tip line at 812-948-NAPD.
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