The 15-year-old daughter of Olympic athlete Tyson Gay was caught in the crossfire in an apparent shootout in Kentucky early Sunday.
Trinity Gay, a rising track starherself, was struck in the neck by a stray bullet. She was later pronounced dead at the University of Kentucky Medical Center.
“She didn’t make it. I’m so confused,” Gay’s father told LEX18.”She was just here last week for fall break. It’s so crazy. I have no idea what happened.” According to local station WKYT, gunfire broke out between two carsaround 4 a.m. outside the Cook Out restaurant in Lexington. Two groups of men began shooting at each other before speeding away down a nearby street. Lexington police said Gay wasn’t in either car.
Gay was a sprinter at Lafayette High School in Lexington, and finished in fourth in the 100 meters and fifth in the 200 meters at a state track meet earlier this year, ESPN reported. Her father, who competed in the 2010 Olympics but was later stripped of his silver medal after testing positive for steroids, also ran at Lafayette; he still holds the state record in the 100, which he set in 2001. “Our hearts are broken this morning over the loss of Trinity to this tragic and senseless act of violence. 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,”Fayette County Schools Superintendent Manny Caulk said in a statement. Fellow athletes and Olympians tweeted their condolences to Tyson and his family, as well.
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
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
My prayers and condolences go out to Tyson Gay and his family ??
— Karl-Anthony Towns (@KarlTowns) October 16, 2016
