Trinity Gay was caught in an exchange of gunfire between the occupants of two vehicles at about 4am local time on Sunday in the parking lot of a fast food restaurant in her hometown of Lexington, police said.
She was transported by private vehicle to a local hospital where she was pronounced dead, police said.
Father and son Chazerae Taylor, 38, and D’markeo Taylor, 19, were charged with wanton endangerment in connection with the shooting. Dvonta Middlebrooks, 21, was charged with wanton endangerment and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, Lexington police said in a statement late on Sunday.
“Investigators determined that Middlebrooks was in the parking lot and fired multiple shots at the time of the incident,” the police statement said.
A homicide investigation is ongoing.
Condolences poured in from track stars and officials, including Olympic sprinter Lolo Jones and the USA Track and Field organisation.
“Sending our thoughts and prayers to (Tyson Gay) and his loved ones as they mourn the tragic & senseless loss of his daughter, Trinity,” USA Track & Field, the sport’s national governing body, wrote on Twitter.
Like her father, Trinity attended Lafayette High School, where she was a promising track competitor.
“Our hearts are broken,” the school district said in a statement.
Gay, 34, who was born in Lexington, won three gold medals at the World Championships in 2007 in Osaka, Japan, taking titles in the 100 meters, 200 meters, and 4x100m relay. He set the US record in the 100-meter sprint two years later.
