Police say a man has been arrested in the shooting death of a University of Wisconsin-Whitewater gymnast who had won a national title. The shooting happened near the school.
Whitewater police said the suspect, a 23-year-old guy who knew the victim, shot Kara Welsh, 21, after a fight at an apartment near campus late Friday night.
In a message to students, teachers, and staff on Saturday, University Chancellor Corey King told them that Welsh had died.
As a close-knit college group, we know that hearing about Kara’s death breaks our hearts, King said. “This is a time when we all need to help each other process and grieve.”
Police said in a statement that the suspect was taken to the Walworth County Jail and booked on charges of first-degree intentional homicide, endangering safety while armed, and disorderly conduct while armed. His name has not been made public, so it was not clear if he was still in jail or if he had hired a lawyer.
When asked for more information on Sunday evening, Whitewater police did not reply.
The police department said earlier that a 23-year-old guy was there when they went to a report of a gunshot victim on Friday. Police said the woman, who they later named as Welsh, had been shot several times and was already dead when they arrived.
“Through investigation, it was determined that leading up to the shooting, an altercation had occurred between the two,” the police said.
The killing happened in the 100 block of Whitewater Street, which is about a mile east of the main campus of the school. It happened at a house that the school’s website lists as off-campus living.
Welsh was from Plainfield, Illinois, and was majoring in business management. The school says she won a national title on the vault for the gymnastics team last year.
Athletics at the university said in a statement Sunday that she was a “phenom” in the vault and holds four of the eight best vault scores in team history.
“It’s impossible to put into words how much Kara meant to the Warhawk community,” coach Jen Regan said in the 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.”
USA Gymnastics, which runs the sport in the U.S., said on X, “Our deepest condolences go out to Kara’s family, friends, and teammates at @UWWGymnastics.”
King said that memorial services would be announced as soon as more information became known. Flags on campus will be at half-staff when students, teachers, and staff return on Tuesday. He also said that people who need it can get counseling.
A family member of Walsh did not reply right away to a request for comment on Sunday night.
It takes about 50 miles to get from Milwaukee to Whitewater.
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