Trinity Gay, the daughter of Olympic sprinter Tyson Gay, died early Sunday morning after being fatally shot in the neck at a restaurant in Kentucky. She was 15.
According to a police report obtained by WKYT.com, Trinity Gay was shot in the neck after two cars exchanged gunfire outside of a Lexington Cook Out location. She died at the University of Kentucky Medical Center, the coroner’s office for Fayette County said in a statement.
Tyson Gay said he and his daughter were very close, according to Lexington TV station WLEX, which spoke to the sprinter Sunday.
“It’s so crazy. I have no idea what happened,” Gay told the station.
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Former NFL wide receiver Chad Johnson expressed his condolences on Twitter:
Police have arrested three men in connection with the shooting. On Sunday evening, police announced that Dvonta Middlebrooks, 21, was arrested and charged with wanton endangerment and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. According to a statement, investigators determined that Middlebrooks was in the parking lots and fired several shots during the incident.
Lexington police added that 38-year-old Chazerae Taylor and his 19-year-old son D’Markeo have also been charged with wanton endangerment.
A hearing for the three men is scheduled for Monday afternoon at Fayette County District Court.
Police spokeswoman Brenna Angel stated police don’t believe Trinity Gay was in either of the vehicles involved.
Tyson Gay, 34, competed as part of Team USA in the last three Summer Olympics. He was on the team that won silver in the 4×100-meter relay at the London 2012 Games, although that medal was ultimately stripped after Gay tested positive for steroids in 2013.
This summer’s Rio Games proved to be another disappointment for Gay, who has battled injuries. He was a member of the American men’s 4×100-meter relay team that finished third in the final before being disqualified for an illegal baton exchange between Mike Rodgers and Justin Gatlin. The team’s appeal was denied, thus giving Canada the bronze medal.
Trinity Gay was a sprinter at Lafayette High School in Lexington and 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. Her father, who also ran track at Lafayette, still holds the state record in the 100, set in 2001.
“Our hearts are broken this morning over the loss of Trinity to this tragic and senseless act of violence,” Fayette County Public Schools superintendent Manny Caulk said in a statement. “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.”
Several other notable athletes, like Vince Carter, and organizations, like USA Track & Field, also offered condolences on Twitter:
Kentucky High School Athletic Association commissioner Julian Tackett tweeted that he was stunned: “Shocked to hear of death of Trinity Gay. A life of such potential cut so tragically short. Sympathies to Tyson and entire family.”
EUGENE, OR – JULY 07: Tyson Gay competes in the first round of the Men’s 200 Meter during the 2016 U.S. Olympic Track & Field Team Trials at Hayward Field on July 7, 2016 in Eugene, Oregon. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
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