Suspect in death of Wisconsin college gymnastics champion identified

WHITEWATER, Wis. ( WFRV / WGN ) — Police in southern Wisconsin have identified the man arrested for allegedly shooting and killing a standout college gymnast.

Kara Welsh, 21, a student at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, was fatally shot at an off-campus apartment late Friday night, according to authorities. Whitewater Police said Welsh was found with multiple gunshot wounds.

Authorities previously said a suspect had been arrested and charged, but identified him only as a 23-year-old man who reportedly knew Welsh. While investigating the incident, Whitewater Police determined the man and Welsh had gotten into an argument before the alleged shooting.

On Tuesday morning, police identified that man as 23-year-old Chad Richards of Loves Park, Illinois.

Charges of first-degree intentional homicide, endangering safety by the use of a dangerous weapon, and disorderly conduct while armed were forwarded to the Walworth County District Attorney’s Office, Whitewater Police noted.

Richards is scheduled to appear in court Tuesday.

Welsh, who was from Plainfield, Illinois, was majoring in business management at UW-Whitewater. She was also a championship-winning member of the school’s gymnastics team.

While competing for the NCAA Division III program, Welsh won the 2023 individual national title in the vault at the National Collegiate Gymnastics Association Championships. She then returned from injury late in the 2024 season, winning her second straight Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference title in the vault before helping lead the Warhawks to a team runner-up finish in the NCGA Championships.

“Our hearts are broken with the tragic loss of one of our own,” the school’s gymnastics team said on Facebook.

“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.”

UW-Whitewater flags were lowered to half-staff on Tuesday, according to Chancellor Corey King.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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