Fundraiser launched for 22-year-old Harvest Homecoming shooting victim

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WAVE) – A 22-year-old father is still recovering at UofL Hospital after he was struck by a stray bullet during Saturday night’s three-shooting outside Harvest Homecoming.

Brendan Hagan was at the festival with his girlfriend Genesis Taylor and their ten-month-old son Xenovion.

As he retreated to go to the bathroom, Hagan said he overheard two groups of young teenagers arguing in a parking lot nearby. He was about to leave when suddenly the shooting started.

“I heard gunshots,” Hagan said in an interview with WAVE from the hospital. “Either the first or second punch hit me directly on the leg. Then I hit the ground for maybe half a second, but my adrenaline went through the roof, so I stood up on my left leg and got out of the way.”

When she heard the shooting begin, Taylor said she handed her son to her mother and ran to Hagan. As the shooting continued, both fell to the ground.

“I just pulled him towards me, grabbed him and held him,” Taylor said. “I tried to keep him awake, I told him, you know, stay with me, talk to me.”

The two remained on the ground until the shooting stopped and first responders arrived.

Nearby was 18-year-old Bryce Gerlach, who died from his injuries at the scene of the accident. A 44-year-old woman was also shot.

Meanwhile, Hagan, who had been hit in an artery, was rapidly losing blood.

“I took my shirt off so they could put pressure on everything because they had to put the tourniquet on my thigh and then put my shirt on my knee where I got hit,” Hagan said. “If they hadn’t done that, I don’t know if I would be here right now.”

He has since had the opportunity to reconnect with one of the first responders who saved his life, a New Albany police officer who applied his tourniquet.

“He made sure I was okay and I just praised him for helping me,” Hagan said. “I’m just blessed.”

Hagan’s artery was replaced and he underwent two surgeries on his leg at UofL Hospital.

The couple hopes the shooters will be brought to justice soon. According to police, at least two groups of people were involved in the dispute and there were at least two shooters.

“They cost a life,” Hagan said. “A little boy who had a really great path, a path to success, and they took that away from him. I hope he gets the justice he deserves.”

“Those are kids down there riding rides and they didn’t think about that,” Taylor said. “They were thinking about problems they had with each other at another time and in the wrong place.”

Brendan’s family started a GoFundMe to help cover his medical expenses. You can donate here.

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