A 21-year-old college gymnast from Illinois, who was preparing for her senior year at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, was tragically killed in her off-campus apartment on Friday night, just before the Labor Day weekend. The incident has left her teammates, coaches, family, and friends in a state of shock and grief.
The Whitewater Police Department reported on Saturday that a 23-year-old male suspect had been taken into custody and was being held at the Walworth County Jail. The charges against him include first-degree intentional homicide in the death of Kara Welsh, a Class A felony that could result in a life sentence in Wisconsin.
The suspect is also facing charges of armed disorderly conduct and endangering safety through the use of a dangerous weapon. While the police have not disclosed much about the relationship between the victim and the alleged shooter, local news outlets have reported that investigators believe the two were acquainted. It was also reported that the suspect was present at the scene when the police arrived, leading authorities to suspect that an altercation had taken place between the two before the shooting.
Welsh, who was a business management major, had chosen to attend UW-Whitewater because she had fallen in love with the campus and its community. According to the university, Welsh was a national champion and a two-time All-American. Her coach described her as a powerful athlete, a dedicated teammate, and a beacon of light during difficult times.
Jen Regan, a fellow Warhawk gymnast, said, “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.”
A GoFundMe campaign has been launched on behalf of Kara’s mother, Nancy. The campaign describes Kara as a daughter, sister, dear friend, and teammate who grew up in Plainfield, Illinois. The post on the campaign page reads, “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. 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.”