A man has been arrested in the shooting death of a former national title-winning University of Wisconsin-Whitewater gymnast near the school’s campus, police said.
Whitewater police said 23-year-old Chad T. Richards, who knew the victim, shot and killed 21-year-old Kara Welsh after an argument late Friday at an on-campus apartment.
Police said they will not be releasing any additional information at this time as the investigation is ongoing.
University President Corey King announced Welsh’s death in a message to students, faculty and staff on Saturday.
“I know the news of Carla’s death is heartbreaking for our close-knit university community,” King said. “This is a time when we all need to support, accept and grieve one another.”
The suspect was taken to the Walworth County Jail and arrested on suspicion of first-degree intentional murder, endangering safety while armed and disorderly conduct while armed, police said in a statement, adding that those charges have been referred to the Walworth County District Attorney’s Office.
Police say Richards is scheduled to appear in court on Tuesday. It is unclear at this time if he has an attorney.
Police said in an earlier statement that a 23-year-old suspect was at the scene when officers responded to a report of a gunshot victim on Friday. Police said the woman, later identified as Welsh, had been shot multiple times and was dead when officers arrived on the scene.
“The investigation revealed that an altercation occurred between the two individuals prior to the shooting,” police said.
The murder happened at a home listed as off-campus housing on the university’s webpage, located at 100 Whitewater Avenue, about a mile east of the university’s main campus.
According to the school, Welsh is a business administration major from Plainfield, Illinois, and was a member of the gymnastics team last year, winning the individual national title on vault.
The university’s athletic department said in a statement Sunday that she was a “phenom” on the vault, holding four of the team’s eight all-time high vault scores.
“Words cannot express the impact Kara has had on the Warhawk community,” coach Jen Regan said in a statement. “A strong athlete, a dedicated teammate and a light on everyone’s dark days, Kara truly inspired each and every one of us as Warhawk gymnasts.”
USA Gymnastics, the sport’s governing body in the United States, said in a statement on X that it “extends our deepest condolences to Kara’s family, friends and teammates at @UWWGymnastics.”
King said details about a memorial service will be announced when they are available. Flags will fly at half-staff on campus when students and faculty return on Tuesday, and counseling will be available to anyone who needs it, he said.
Walsh’s relatives did not immediately respond to requests for comment Sunday evening.
Whitewater is about 50 miles west-southwest of Milwaukee.