A 23-year-old man has been arrested for the shooting death of University of Wisconsin-Whitewater gymnast Kara Welsh near campus. Welsh was shot multiple times after an altercation at a campus-area apartment. The suspect, who knew the victim, has been booked on suspicion of first-degree intentional homicide, endangering safety while armed, and disorderly conduct while armed. The suspect’s name has not been released, and it is unclear if he has legal representation or if he is still in jail. The killing occurred at an off-campus residence about a mile east of the school’s main campus.
Welsh, a business management major from Illinois, had won an individual national title on the vault for the gymnastics team last year. She was described as a vault “phenom” who had a significant impact on her teammates and the university community. Memorial services for Welsh will be announced later, and counseling is available for those in need. Flags on campus will fly at half-staff in honor of Welsh’s memory. The University Chancellor, Corey King, expressed his condolences to Welsh’s family, friends, and teammates, as did USA Gymnastics.
Whitewater police have not provided additional information on the case, and a relative of Welsh could not be reached for comment. The community is mourning the loss of a talented and beloved athlete, who left a lasting impact on those she knew.
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