Aspire Gymnastics Academy / Fb
Authorities arrested a suspect this weekend within the deadly taking pictures of Kara Welsh, a 21-year-old gymnast from the College of Wisconsin-Whitewater, at an off-campus residence.
Police reported {that a} 23-year-old man allegedly shot Kara Welsh, who gained a person nationwide title on the vault for the gymnastics workforce final yr, a number of occasions at an residence only a block from the college’s essential campus on Friday.
Police haven’t launched the identify of the suspect, however they mentioned they imagine she knew him.
The character of their relationship was not clear.
Police mentioned officers arrived simply earlier than midnight Friday and located Welsh useless with a number of gunshot wounds.
“Additionally current within the residence was a 23-year-old male who was recognized to the deceased feminine,” the assertion mentioned.
“By means of investigation, it was decided that main as much as the taking pictures, an altercation had occurred between the 2.”
College of Wisconsin-Whitewater
The suspect now faces expenses of first-degree intentional murder, endangering security with a harmful weapon, and disorderly conduct whereas armed, in accordance with a subsequent police assertion. The investigation stays ongoing, they added.
Heading into her senior yr on the College of Wisconsin-Whitewater, Welsh was a administration main and a member of the varsity’s Warhawk gymnastics workforce.
College Chancellor Corey King knowledgeable college students and college of Welsh’s loss of life in a message on Saturday.
“Kara Welsh, age 21, from Plainfield, Illinois, died in a taking pictures off campus on Friday, Aug. 30, 2024,” he wrote.
“Kara was majoring in administration in our Faculty of Enterprise and Economics and was a standout member of the Warhawk gymnastics workforce, profitable a person nationwide title on the vault in 2023.
“We all know the information of Kara’s loss of life is heartbreaking for our close-knit college neighborhood.
“It’s a time after we are all known as upon to help each other, to course of, and to grieve.”
He additionally talked about that counseling companies can be offered to UW-Whitewater college students, school, and workers to help them throughout this troublesome time. Moreover, the varsity’s flag might be flown at half-staff on September 3, the beginning of the autumn semester, in honor of Welsh’s reminiscence.
In help of her household, a GoFundMe web page has been established to help her mother and father, Nancy and Tom Welsh, and her sister, Kaeli, throughout this tragic time.