Decorated university gymnast shot and killed; suspect in custody

Sept. 1 (UPI) -- Decorated gymnast Kara Welsh was fatally shot over the weekend following an altercation with a 23-year-old man, authorities said.

Welsh, a native of Plainfield, Ill., was a national champion and two-time All-American from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater.

The Whitewater Police Department said in a statement that she was shot and killed Friday night.

Officers received a call concerning an individual suffering from a gunshot wound at an apartment in the 100 block of W. Whitewater Street, in the city of Whitewater, shortly before midnight Friday. The city is located about 52 miles southwest of Milwaukee.

Upon arrival, officers found an individual later identified as Welsh dead after being shot multiple times.

Authorities said the shooting followed an altercation that had occurred between Welsh and a 23-year-old man who was at the apartment. The unidentified suspect was arrested and is being held at the Walworth County jail, according to police.

The man has been charged with first-degree intentional homicide, endangering safety by the use of a dangerous weapon and disorderly conduct while armed.

On Saturday, Chancellor Corey King of the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, where Welsh studied and was a member of the school's gymnastics team, issued a statement of condolences to students, faculty and staff.

"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," King said.

King added that they are in contact with Welsh's family and that the gymnastics team and coaches were informed of Welsh's death in person and are being offered counseling services.

The university's flag will fly at half-staff on Tuesday in Welsh's memory, King said.

Welsh won the national vault title in 2023, and holds four of the top eight scores in the event recorded in team history, the school said.

"To put into words the impact Kara had on the Warhawk community is impossible," Coach Jen Regan said Sunday in a statement .

"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. 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."

USA Gymnastics, the national government body of Gymnastics in the United States, issued its condolences online.

"We offer our deepest condolences to Kara's family, friends and teammates at @UWWGymnastics," it said 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