WHITEWATER, Wis. – Officials have identified the suspect who was taken into custody in the shooting death last Friday of 21-year-old college gymnast Kara Welsh. The alleged gunman was on the college wrestling team at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater and also studying as a communications student at the school.
Chad T. Richards, a 23-year-old from Loves Park, Ill., remains in custody on a $1 million bond and appeared Tuesday in Walworth County Court, WISN reported.
According to the Whitewater Police Department, Richards is expected to be formally charged later this week with first-degree intentional homicide, disorderly conduct while armed, and endangering safety by the use of a dangerous weapon.
Welsh, a 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. Richards was immediately arrested in the fatal shooting, yet was not identified until Tuesday.
The murder victim was a business management major who also won an individual national title on the vault for the school’s gymnastics team last year, reported the New York Post.
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 last week. “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’s older sister Kaeli said in a statement on Tuesday, “Kara was the light of my life, and I truly have no idea what I’m going to do without her.”
“My worst fear has always been losing my best friend,” Kaeli said. “Now that it’s happened, I will not stop fighting for her and telling her story to anyone and everyone that will listen.”
Welsh was beginning her senior year at the school. 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.”
USA Gymnastics offered its condolences on X.
We offer our deepest condolences to Kara’s family, friends and teammates at @UWWGymnastics. pic.twitter.com/5XsUEway2n
— USA Gymnastics (@USAGym) September 1, 2024
According to the university’s website, Richards was on the wrestling team from 2020 to 2022, Law&Crime reported.
A profile for Richards said that he was a high school wrestler who “chose to attend UW-Whitewater for the wrestling program.”
