The teenage daughter of American sprinter Tyson Gay has been killed in a shooting in Kentucky.
The Lexington Police Department announced that the 15-year-old Trinity Gay was killed in the incident, which took place in a car park at the Cook Out restaurant in the southern US state.
Tyson Gay, who is from Lexington, confirmed her death to local TV station Lex 18. “She didn’t make it. I’m so confused. She was just here last week for fall break. It’s so crazy. I have no idea what happened,” he told the station.
The police said in a statement: “A juvenile who was struck at the scene was transported to a hospital by private vehicle and then transferred to UK Hospital [University of Kentucky Hospital], where she was pronounced deceased. The victim has been identified by the Fayette County Coroner’s office as 15-year-old Trinity Gay of Lexington.”
USA Track and Field also confirmed the news in tweeting: “Sending our thoughts & prayers to Tyson Gay & his loved ones as they mourn the tragic & senseless loss of his daughter, Trinity.”
The Fayette County coroner’s office says in a statement that Trinity Gay died in hospital. The sprinter’s agent, Mark Wetmore, confirmed that Gay’s daughter was killed.
Lexington police said officers went to the car park of a restaurant after witnesses reported gunfire exchanged between two vehicles. Officers located one of the vehicles and stopped two people for questioning.
Tyson Gay has competed in the last three Olympics. He was part of a team that won a silver medal in the 4x100m relay at the 2012 London Games though that medal was ultimately stripped after Gay tested positive for steroids in 2013.
Trinity Gay had been following in her father’s footsteps by building a sprinting career of some promise.
Tyson Gay, 34, is the USA’s 100 metres record holder and records show that Trinity Gay was a 200m regional champion during the most recent athletics season.