Man arrested in fatal shooting of title-winning college gymnast in Wisconsin

A person has been arrested within the capturing demise of a nationwide title-winning College of Wisconsin-Whitewater gymnast close to campus, police stated.

Whitewater police stated the suspect, recognized solely as a 23-year-old man who knew the sufferer, shot Kara Welsh, 21, after an altercation at a campus-area condominium late Friday.

College Chancellor Corey King introduced Welsh’s demise Saturday in a message to college students and college and workers members.

“We all know the information of Kara’s demise is heartbreaking for our close-knit college group,” King stated. “It’s a time once we are all known as upon to help each other, to course of, and to grieve.”

The suspect was taken to Walworth County Jail and booked on suspicion of first-degree intentional murder, endangering security whereas armed and disorderly conduct whereas armed, police stated in an announcement. As a result of his title has not been launched, it was unclear whether or not he’s nonetheless in jail or whether or not he has retained authorized counsel.

Whitewater police didn’t reply to a request for extra data Sunday night.

In an earlier assertion, the police division stated a 23-year-old man was current when officers responded to a report of a gunshot sufferer Friday. A lady, later recognized as Welsh, had been shot a number of occasions and was lifeless when officers arrived, police stated.

“By investigation, it was decided that main as much as the capturing, an altercation had occurred between the 2,” police stated.

The killing befell on the 100 block of Whitewater Avenue, a couple of mile east of the college’s foremost campus, at a residence listed on a college internet web page as off-campus housing.

Welsh was a enterprise administration main from Plainfield, Illinois, who gained a person nationwide title on the vault for the gymnastics workforce final yr, in keeping with the college.

She was a vault “phenom” who holds 4 of the eight highest vault scores in workforce historical past, the college’s athletic division stated in an announcement Sunday.

“To place into phrases the influence Kara had on the Warhawk group is unattainable,” coach Jen Regan stated within the assertion. “A robust athlete, devoted teammate, and the sunshine in everybody’s darkish days, Kara actually lifted each certainly one of us up in her time as a Warhawk gymnast.”

USA Gymnastics, the governing physique for the game within the U.S., stated on X, “We provide our deepest condolences to Kara’s household, mates and teammates at @UWWGymnastics.”

King stated memorial companies can be introduced when particulars can be found. Flags on campus will fly at half-staff when college students and college and workers members return Tuesday, and counseling is on the market to those that want it, he stated.

A relative of Walsh’s didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark Sunday night.

Whitewater is about 50 miles west-southwest of Milwaukee.