Daughter of U.S. track star Tyson Gay shot dead in Kentucky
LEXINGTON, KENTUCKY – The daughter of U.S. track star Tyson Gay was killed in a shooting at a restaurant in Lexington, officials say.
CBS Lexington affiliate WKYT reports that Trinity Gay, 15, was shot around 4 a.m. Sunday morning, and was pronounced dead about an hour later.
The police statement didn’t identify Trinity Gay by name, saying a juvenile who was struck at the scene was taken by private vehicle to the UK Hospital and later pronounced dead.
Lexington police say the shooting took place at the Cook Out restaurant on South Broadway, and it involved the exchange of gunfire between two cars, which left the scene.
Officials say Gay was shot in the neck, and that she was not in either car involved.
Police say they’re questioning two people of interest in the case, and one of the two vehicles involved is still being sought.
Trinity Gay was herself a rising star on the track team at Lafayette High School, WKYT reports.
She finished fourth in the 100 meters and fifth in the 200 meters at the state Class 3A high school track meet in May, records show. She also ran on a 4x200 relay team that finished fourth. Her father also ran at Lafayette and still holds the state record in the 100 set in 2001.
Tyson Gay has competed in the last three Summer Olympics. He was part of a team that won a silver medal in the 4x100-meter relay at the 2012 London Games though that medal was ultimately stripped after Gay tested positive for steroids in 2013. He still holds the U.S. record for the 100-meter dash with a time of 9.69 seconds.
Bryn Jacobs, the principal at Lafayette, tweeted that the Lafayette family “will come together to provide love and support for our students and one another during this tragic time.”
In a statement, Fayette County Schools Superintendent Manny Caulk said, “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.”