Trinity Gay: Tyson Gay joins thousands of mourners at memorial for his daughter

Tragic death: Tyson Gay embraces those gathered during candlelight vigil for his daughter
Reuters
Chloe Chaplain18 October 2016
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Former Olympic sprinter Tyson Gay joined thousands of mourners at a candlelight vigil honouring his 15-year-old daughter who was fatally shot at the weekend.

Mr Gay paid tribute to his daughter on the running track at Lexington's Lafayette High School where he and Trinity both trained.

Friends and family wore pink and purple in memory of the teenager, who died on Sunday after being hit in crossfire when gunfire erupted outside a restaurant.

The athlete thanked people for their support and added that he was “numb” from crying over her death.

Track star: Classmates of Trinity Gay release balloons in her favorite colours
AP

"I want you guys to love each other, have peace and protect each other,” he said.

"That's what Trinity would have wanted. ... Life is not a joke."

Numb: The former Olympian thanked mourners for their support
AP

Pairs of track spikes hung from a fence along with a baton that said "In Memory of Trinity", who was killed in a parking lot.

The three men charged in connection with the shooting, Chazerae Taylor, 38, his son, D'Markeo Taylor, 19, and Dvonta Middlebrooks, 21, pleaded not guilty on Monday and will appear in court on October 25.

Tragic: Sprinter Tyson Gay with his daughter Trinity
Twitter

Gay told The Associated Press on Monday evening that in talking with police, he believed his daughter was an innocent bystander.

But he said authorities didn't reveal details of their investigation.

In memory: Friends and family members carried purple and pink balloons
AP

Trinity Gay was a standout sprinter, placing in the top five in several events at the state championships in May.

Lafayette principal Bryne Jacobs, teacher Rhonda Mullins and girls track coach Crystal Washington all described Trinity Gay, who dreamed of becoming a surgeon, as friendly and outgoing.

"She was full of energy and life," said Mullins, who taught Gay in science classes. "She was a kid that everybody wanted to teach."

Pictures show Mr Gay hugging Trinity's mother, Shoshana Boyd, who also attended Lafayette school, and several around him.

With additional reporting from the Associated Press.

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