US Olympic sprinter Tyson Gay lost his 15-year-old daughter Trinity in an early morning shooting on Sunday that happened in a restaurant car park in the US state of Kentucky. The teenager was hit in the neck during the exchange of fire that took place at around 4am between two vehicles outside the ‘Cook Out’ eatery.
Trinity was rushed to the University of Kentucky hospital immediately after the incident where she passed away, according to local media.
Her death has been confirmed by Tyson Gay, a Lexington native to the 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,” the bereaved father said.
The Lexington Police Department too released a statement on the shocking news, which said: “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.”
The police reached the spot after witnesses reported the shootout. After taking swift action, the cops were able to trace one of the two cars that were involved and have detained two people for questioning. The search for the other car is still on and a murder investigation has been launched.
The athletics family has reached out to Tyson Gay in this hour of crisis.
Young Trinity was a rising talent who was following in her World Championships gold medal-winning father’s footsteps. She had been competing for her school, Lafayette High School for some time and had already become a regional champion in the 200m event in the last athletics season.
The 34-year-old Tyson Gay had been a regular member of the US track team who featured in the past three Olympics with his most recent appearance being for the US 100m relay team in Rio.