A 15-year-old high school track athlete, Trinity Tylia Gay, was killed in the pre-dawn hours of October 16, 2016, in the parking lot of a Cook Out restaurant in Lexington, Kentucky. Trinity was an innocent bystander during an exchange of gunfire between occupants of a gray Dodge Charger and a dark-colored sports car; she was not in either vehicle. A bullet struck her in the neck. She was taken by private vehicle to the University of Kentucky hospital and was pronounced dead.

Lexington police quickly identified several suspects and arrested four men: Dvonta Middlebrooks, 21; Chazerae Taylor, 38; his son D’markeo Taylor, 19; and Lamonte Williams, 20. Investigators determined Middlebrooks had fired multiple shots. Initial charges included wanton endangerment for the Taylors and Middlebrooks, with Middlebrooks also charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon; Williams was later charged with wanton endangerment. A grand jury later indicted Chazerae M. Taylor for wanton murder on the theory that his conduct created the violent situation that led to Trinity’s death; the other men were prosecuted for wanton endangerment.

Chazerae Taylor was convicted of wanton murder, and Dvonta Middlebrooks, D’Markeo Taylor and Lamonte Williams were convicted of wanton endangerment. If anyone knew Trinity, was at the Cook Out that morning, or has information about the shooting, please come forward.