UPDATE: The shooting suspect was identified as 23-year-old Chad T. Richards, a wrestler and student at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. Law enforcement authorities said he will face homicide charges in the shooting death of Kara Welsh. Read more.
WHITEWATER, Wis. – A female gymnast attending the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater was shot and killed on Friday at an apartment about a block away from the university’s main campus. A suspect has been arrested in the fatal shooting.
Kara Welsh, 21, was identified as the victim, according to law enforcement authorities. She was a business management major who also won an individual national title on the vault for the gymnastics team last year, reported the New York Post.
Police have not released the name of the 23-year-old male suspect, but said he shot the woman multiple times.
Investigators believe the victim knew her killer, yet the nature of their relationship remains unclear.
Welsh was found dead with multiple gunshot wounds by responding officers just before midnight on Friday.
“Also present in the apartment was a 23-year-old male who was known to the deceased female,” Whitewater Police said in a statement. “Through investigation, it was determined that leading up to the shooting, an altercation had occurred between the two.”
The suspect was taken into custody and booked on the charges of first-degree intentional homicide, endangering safety by the use of a dangerous weapon and disorderly conduct while armed, the police said in another news release.
Welsh was beginning her senior year at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. University Chancellor Corey King announced her death Saturday in a message to students and faculty.
“Kara Welsh, age 21, from Plainfield, Illinois, died in a shooting off campus on Friday, Aug. 30, 2024,” he wrote. “Kara was majoring in management in our College of Business and Economics and was a standout member of the Warhawk gymnastics team, winning an individual national title on the vault in 2023. We know the news of Kara’s death is heartbreaking for our close-knit university community. It is a time when we are all called upon to support one another, to process, and to grieve.”
A physical altercation occurred inside the apartment prior to the shooting. (University of Wisconsin-Whitewater)
A GoFundMe established by Welsh’s family, provided the following insight into the young woman’s life:
“Kara was a daughter, sister, dear friend and teammate who grew up in Plainfield, Illinois.
“Kara had a unique ability to bring joy to any person she crossed paths with, always putting a smile on people’s faces with her sense of humor, unwavering support and sweet disposition.
“Kara, 21 years old, was excited to be in her rising senior year as a gymnast at UW-Whitewater which was abruptly cut short on August 30th, by a heartless act of violence. We are completely heartbroken for our beloved Welsh family — Nancy, Tom, and Kaeli as they navigate this incredibly difficult time.”
