College gymnast Kara Welsh, 21, shot dead at Wisconsin apartment

WHITEWATER, Wis. ( WGN ) — A standout college gymnast who attended the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater was shot and killed at an off-campus apartment over the weekend.

Whitewater police said a suspect, identified only as a 23-year-old man, was arrested and charged in the death of Kara Welsh, 21.

“Kara was a true Warhawk – an amazing person, student and athlete,” the university’s athletic director, Ryan Callahan, said in a statement . “We are all lucky to have spent time with her over the past three years. She was selfless and made everyone around her better.”

On Friday, Aug. 30, officers responded to the 100 block of West Whitewater Street to investigate reports of a shooting and found Welsh dead with multiple gunshot wounds.

Officers also found a 23-year-old man, who reportedly knew Welsh, inside the apartment. The pair had gotten into an argument before the shooting, police said.

The suspect is being held in the Walworth County Jail and faces the following charges: first-degree intentional homicide, endangering safety by the use of a dangerous weapon, and disorderly conduct while armed.

Welsh, a native of Plainfield, Illinois, was a member of the Warhawk gymnastics team and won an individual national title on the vault in 2023. She was also majoring in business.

“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,” UW-Whitewater Chancellor Corey King said in a school announcement .

School officials said counseling services will be made available to UW-Whitewater students, faculty and staff. The UW-Whitewater flag will also fly at half-staff on Tuesday.

USA Gymnastics also offered its “deepest condolences to Kara’s family, friends and teammates” in a post on the social media platform X .

WFRV’s Ben Newhouse contributed to this report.

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