Just before Labor Day weekend, on Friday night, a 21-year-old gymnast from Illinois who was about to start her senior year at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater was shot multiple times and killed at her off-campus apartment. Her teammates and coaches were shocked and saddened, and her family and friends were devastated.
The unidentified suspect, a 23-year-old man, was taken into the Walworth County Jail on a number of charges, including first-degree intentional homicide in Kara Welsh’s death, a Class A felony that carries a potential life sentence in Wisconsin prison, according to the Whitewater Police Department on Saturday, the day following the shooting.
According to police, the man is also charged with armed disorderly conduct and putting others’ safety in jeopardy by brandishing a potentially harmful weapon.
Investigators believe the victim and the suspected gunman knew one another, according to Illinois local ABC station WLS, despite the fact that police have not revealed much more about their relationship. According to NBC News, the defendant was there when law enforcement arrived, and they believe that “an altercation had occurred between the two” before the shooting.
We offer our deepest condolences to Kara’s family, friends and teammates at @UWWGymnastics. pic.twitter.com/5XsUEway2n
— USA Gymnastics (@USAGym) September 1, 2024
Welsh enrolled at UW-Whitewater “because she fell in love with the campus and the people,” according to her university gymnastics biography.
Welsh was described as a “national champion and two-time All-American” in statements from the school, and her coach referred to her as a “powerful athlete, dedicated teammate, and the light in everyone’s dark days.”
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“Kara truly lifted each and every one of us up in her time as a Warhawk gymnast,” Jen Regan stated. “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.”
The school further stated that Welsh was a senior majoring in business management.
A GoFundMe page was created in Kara’s mother’s honor. “Daughter, sister, dear friend, and teammate who grew up in Plainfield, Illinois,” was how Nancy described herself.
