Olympic sprinter Tyson Gay’s teenage daughter died in a shooting at a Lexington, Kentucky eatery early Sunday (Oct. 16), reports the Associated Press. Trinity Gay, 15, was caught in the crossfire as two passing vehicles exchanged gunfire in the parking lot of the Cook Out restaurant at around 4:40 a.m. local time.
The teen was not in either vehicles when the group of men opened fire on each other, and subsequently shot Trinity in the neck. According to the Lexington Herald, she was taken to the University of Kentucky Hospital where she died less than an hour later.
“She didn’t make it,” Gay confirmed in an interview with a local news station. “I’m so confused. She was just here last week for fall break. It’s so crazy. I have no idea what happened.”
Gay, 34, is a 100m and 200m sprinter, who competed in the last three Summer Olympics. In 2013, Gay was stripped of the silver medal that he won at the London Games after testing positive for a banned substance. He is the second fastest athlete in the world, after Usain Bolt.
Trinity was a rising track star at Lafayette High School in Lexington. Fayette County Public Schools Superintendent Emmanuel Caulk released a statement mourning the loss of the young athlete.
“Our hearts are broken this morning over the loss of Trinity to this tragic and senseless act of violence,” Cualk said in a statement to Lex 18 News. “Please join us in keeping the Gay family close in thought and prayer and supporting the students, staff, and families at Lafayette High during this unspeakably difficult time.”
While the investigation is ongoing, police have questioned two persons of interest in the shooting.
See condolences to Gay and his family below.
Sending our thoughts & prayers to @TysonLGay & his loved ones as they mourn the tragic & senseless loss of his daughter, Trinity.
— USATF (@usatf) October 16, 2016
Heavy heart today for Tyson Gay and his family.
Lord please ease their pain and give them strength during this time.
— Lolo Jones (@lolojones) October 16, 2016
R.I.P. Trinity. This senseless violence needs to stop😔🙏🏽
— BSHS Track And Field (@BSHSTnF) October 16, 2016
Trinity Gay, 15 y-o daughter of 🇺🇸 Olympian Tyson Gay, dies after shooting in Kentucky. Our deepest condolences to @TysonLGay & family 😞 pic.twitter.com/2R48vmsLCD
— Team Jamaica (@JamaicaOlympics) October 16, 2016
My prayers and condolences go out to Tyson Gay and his family 🙏🏽
— Karl-Anthony Towns (@KarlTowns) October 16, 2016
Don’t no man deserve to lose his daughter , prayers out to Tyson Gay and his family
— Loading.. (@FLYManMack) October 16, 2016
Condolences to Tyson Gay and his family, no one should have to experience anything like this, this world man this world…
— Casey Dri (@LeanandCuisine) October 16, 2016