Daughter of Olympian shot dead at restaurant

Victim: Tyson Gay and his daughter Trinity

The 15-year-old daughter of Olympic sprinter Tyson Gay has been shot dead outside a Kentucky restaurant after being caught in the crossfire of a gang shooting.

Trinity Gay died at the University of Kentucky Medical Center in the early hours of yesterday morning following the incident.

Lexington police said officers went to the parking lot of a restaurant near the University of Kentucky campus in Lexington about 4am yesterday after witnesses reported gunfire exchanged between two vehicles. Officers located one of the vehicles and stopped two people for questioning.

Police spokeswoman Brenna Angel said police didn't believe Trinity Gay was in either of the vehicles involved.

Her father told a local TV station: "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."

Tyson Gay has competed in the last three Summer 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 was a sprinter at Lafayette High in Lexington and finished fourth in the 100m and fifth in the 200m at the state Class 3A high school track meeting in May, local records show.

She also ran on a 4x200m relay team that finished fourth. Her father also ran at Lafayette and still holds the state record in the 100m set in 2001.

Police say the teenager was taken by private vehicle to the University of Kentucky Hospital and later pronounced dead.

Stunned

Police are still searching for the second vehicle and have begun a murder inquiry.

A tweet from Kentucky High School Athletic Association Commissioner Julian Tackett said he was stunned by the death: "Shocked to hear of death of Trinity Gay. A life of such potential cut so tragically short. Sympathies to Tyson and entire family."

USA Track and Field also tweeted: "Sending our thoughts & prayers to @TysonLGay and his loved ones as they mourn the tragic and senseless loss of his daughter, Trinity."

American footballer Chad Johnson added: "My prayers and condolences to Tyson Gay and the rest of the Gay family, may God give you strength in this time of need."

Irish Independent