Hundreds gathered at Lexington Lafayette High School Monday night to pay tribute to the life of Trinity Gay. The 15-year-old died early Sunday after being hit during an exchange of gunfire.
Prayers, candles, and airborne balloons accompanied pleas for unity in the effort to reduce gun violence.
Many attending the vigil stood on the high school track that Trinity Gay knew well. Her father, Olympic sprinter Tyson Gay was first to speak, thanking those gathered for recognizing his daughter as a beautiful young lady with a beautiful heart. He admonished those present, “Always protect each other, no matter what, cause that’s what Trinity would have wanted."
Jerome Brown says he knew Trinity since third grade and grew up running track with her. He works at Cook Out and had gotten off just a few hours before the tragic shooting. “It was just hard, I mean, I try not to cry,” said Brown. “I tried to be strong for her mom, since she was a single mom, but it’s just hard anyway.”
Several speakers talked about the costs of gun violence. Pastor Charlotte Thompson urged young people to stand firm against peer pressure to be a part of the crowd.
Also speaking as a friend to the Gay family, Coleela White said Trinity was a beam of light with an "infectious smile to melt your heart."
Three men pleaded not guilty Monday to wanton endangerment charges in connection with Gay’s death.?
