Authorities arrested a suspect this weekend within the deadly capturing of Kara Welsh, a 21-year-old gymnast from the College of Wisconsin-Whitewater, at an off-campus residence.
Police reported {that a} 23-year-old man allegedly shot Kara Welsh, who received a person nationwide title on the vault for the gymnastics crew final 12 months, a number of instances at an residence only a block from the college’s foremost campus on Friday.
Police haven’t launched the identify of the suspect, however they stated they consider she knew him.
The character of their relationship was not clear.
Police stated officers arrived simply earlier than midnight Friday and located Welsh useless with a number of gunshot wounds.
“Additionally current within the residence was a 23-year-old male who was identified to the deceased feminine,” the assertion stated.
“By investigation, it was decided that main as much as the capturing, an altercation had occurred between the 2.”
The suspect now faces costs of first-degree intentional murder, endangering security with a harmful weapon, and disorderly conduct whereas armed, in response to a subsequent police assertion. The investigation stays ongoing, they added.
Heading into her senior 12 months on the College of Wisconsin-Whitewater, Welsh was a administration main and a member of the college’s Warhawk gymnastics crew.
College Chancellor Corey King knowledgeable college students and school of Welsh’s dying in a message on Saturday.
“Kara Welsh, age 21, from Plainfield, Illinois, died in a capturing off campus on Friday, Aug. 30, 2024,” he wrote.
“Kara was majoring in administration in our Faculty of Enterprise and Economics and was a standout member of the Warhawk gymnastics crew, profitable a person nationwide title on the vault in 2023.
“We all know the information of Kara’s dying is heartbreaking for our close-knit college neighborhood.
“It’s a time once we are all known as upon to help each other, to course of, and to grieve.”
He additionally talked about that counseling companies can be supplied to UW-Whitewater college students, school, and workers to help them throughout this tough time. Moreover, the college’s flag can be flown at half-staff on September 3, the beginning of the autumn semester, in honor of Welsh’s reminiscence.
In help of her household, a GoFundMe web page has been established to help her dad and mom, Nancy and Tom Welsh, and her sister, Kaeli, throughout this tragic time.