Tyson Gay
Gay's US 4x100m relay team was disqualified after finishing third at Rio Olympics Reuters

US Olympic sprinter Tyson Gay's daughter Trinity Gay died in a shooting on Sunday in Lexington, Kentucky, police say.

The 15-year-old was shot in her neck when groups of men in two cars opened fire at each other at a parking lot of a restaurant in Kentucky, according to Lexington police. They also revealed that Trinity was not a passenger of either of the cars.

Gay, the second joint fastest 100m runner of all time behind decorated Olympian Usain Bolt, while confirming his daughter's death to a local Television channel, said he had no idea about what happened on the fateful morning.

"She did not make it. I am so confused. She was just here last week for fall break. It is so crazy. I have no idea what happened," Gay told Lex18, as quoted by the BBC.

Witnesses reported an exchange of gunfire between two vehicles, a gray Dodge Charger and a dark-colored sports car with tinted windows at 4am [local time] on 16 October, according to Lexington police's statement.

Trinity was then taken to a local hospital in a private vehicle and then transferred to University of Kentucky hospital, where she was pronounced dead.

A 21-year-old man was arrested on Sunday in connection with the case for "possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon", police said and a father-son duo have also been charged as part of their ongoing investigation.

Notably, Trinity was also following in the footsteps of her father, who is a former 100m, 200m World Champion. She went to Lafayette High School in Lexington and was an important member of the school's track team.

The USA Track & Field (USATF) led the condolences with a Tweet saying they mourned the "tragic and senseless" loss of Gay's daughter. Jamaican sprinter Asafa Powell also had a message for his grieved US counterpart.