College senior and gymnast shot to death in own apartment ahead of Labor Day in 'heartless act of violence'

Left: crime scene tape visible outside of apartment (WLS). Right inset: Kara Welsh (University of Wisconsin-Whitewater).

A 21-year-old college gymnast from Illinois ready to begin her senior year at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater was shot multiple times and killed at her off-campus apartment on Friday night, just ahead of Labor Day weekend, shocking and saddening her teammates and coaches, and devastating her family and friends.

The Whitewater Police Department said Saturday, the day after the shooting, that the not yet named suspect, a 23-year-old man, was booked into the Walworth County Jail on several charges, including first-degree intentional homicide in the death of Kara Welsh, a Class A felony which could lead to a sentence of life in prison in Wisconsin .

The suspect is also accused of disorderly conduct while armed and endangering safety through the use of a dangerous weapon, cops said.

Though cops have not said much more about the connection between the victim and the suspected shooter, Illinois local ABC affiliate WLS reported that investigators believe the two knew one another. NBC News added that the defendant was at the scene when cops arrived and that authorities suspect “an altercation had occurred between the two” prior to the shooting.

A university gymnastics profile for Welsh detailed that she enrolled at UW-Whitewater “because she fell in love with the campus and the people.”

In statements, the school said Welsh was a “national champion and two-time All-American” and her coach called her a “powerful athlete, dedicated teammate, and the light in everyone’s dark days[.]”

“Kara truly lifted each and every one of us up in her time as a Warhawk gymnast,” said Jen Regan. “There are no words to describe the void we all feel in our hearts, but Kara’s legacy will live on through Warhawk gymnastics forever.”

Welsh, a senior, was a business management major, the school added.

A GoFundMe campaign started on behalf of Kara’s mom Nancy said she 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,” a post said. “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.”

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