Trinity Gay, 15, a rising track star, believed to have been caught in crossfire of gang shooting outside restaurant

This article is more than 3 years old

This article is more than 3 years old

The teenage daughter of the American sprinter Tyson Gay has been killed in a shooting outside a restaurant in Kentucky.

Trinity Gay, 15, died from injuries sustained following a shoot-out in a car park. The teenager, believed to have been caught in the crossfire of a suspected gang attack, was hit in the neck when a group of men in two cars started shooting.

Her father confirmed her death to a local TV station, LX 18. Speaking on his way to Lexington after Sunday’s shooting, the athlete said: “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.”

Gay, 34, told reporters he was very close to his daughter, who was following in his footsteps as a rising track star. Trinity was transferred to hospital following the shooting and died at the University of Kentucky hospital (UKH).

Her mother, Shoshana Boyd, told the New York Daily News: “She was so innocent, she was so innocent. I just want people to stop shooting and realize who they’re hurting. It’s just random. They don’t understand, they don’t understand who they’re hurting.”

Tyson Gay with his daughter Trinity.

Lexington police said in a statement that officers attended the car park of a Cook Out restaurant after witnesses reported an exchange of gunfire between two vehicles.

According to police the fatal shooting happened at around 4am local time on Sunday before the cars drove away. It is thought Trinity was a bystander and was not in either of the vehicles, which were described as a Dodge Charger and a dark-colored sports car with tinted windows.

Police on Sunday evening announced that Dvonta Middlebrooks, 21, was arrested and charged with wanton endangerment and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. A statement said investigators determined that Middlebrooks was in the parking lot and fired multiple shots at the time of the incident. Another man questioned by police has not been charged.

Facebook Twitter Pinterest The exterior of the Cook Out restaurant where Trinity Gay was shot. Photograph: Timothy D Easley/AP

In a statement, police said: “A juvenile who was struck at the scene was transported to a hospital by private vehicle and then transferred to UKH, 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 sprinter’s agent, Mark Wetmore, confirmed in a text message to the Associated Press that Gay’s daughter was killed. USA Track and Field also confirmed the news in a tweet.

USATF (@usatf) Sending our thoughts & prayers to @TysonLGay & his loved ones as they mourn the tragic & senseless loss of his daughter, Trinity.

The Olympic gold medallist and sprint coach Ato Boldon tweeted: “Condolences to Tyson Gay and his family.”

The American football player Chad Johnson added: “My prayers & condolences to Tyson Gay & the rest of the Gay family, may God give you strength in this time of need.”

Trinity ran as an athlete for Lafayette high school, making a name for herself locally with success as a 100m and 200m sprinter. Julian Tackett, of the Kentucky high school athletics association, said it was a “life of such potential cut so tragically short”.

Writing on Twitter he said: “Shocked to hear of the death of Trinity Gay. Sympathies to Tyson and entire family.”

Tyson Gay is the USA’s 100m record holder and is the second fastest athlete ever, after Usain Bolt.

The runner has competed in the last three summer Olympics. He was part of a team that won a silver medal in the 4 x 100m relay at the 2012 London Games, although he was later stripped of his medal after testing positive for steroids in 2013.