Suspect Accused Of Killing Gymnast Kara Welsh Identified

The suspect accused of murdering national champion University of Wisconsin-Whitewater gymnast Kara Welsh was identified publicly by the Whitewater Police Department on Tuesday (September 3).

Chad T. Richards , 23, of Loves Park, Illinois, was arrested at the apartment where the shooting took place about a block away from the he University of Wisconsin-Whitewater's main campus. The department requested charges from the district attorney's office of first-degree intentional homicide, endangering safety by the use of a dangerous weapon and disorderly conduct while armed in relation to the incident.

Police believe Welsh, 21, and Richards knew each other prior to the shooting, however, the extent of their relationship is unclear.

Welsh, a Division III vault national champion and two-time All-American, was entering her senior year and majoring in management. University of Wisconsin-Whitewater chancellor Corey King shared a statement announcing Welsh's death to students and faculty on the school's website .

“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.”