Kara Walsh was a student at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater
A tragic incident has shaken the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater community following the death of 21-year-old gymnast Kara Welsh.
Welsh, who was a national champion on the vault and a two-time All-American, was fatally shot in an apartment just a block away from the university’s campus late Friday night.
Authorities arrested suspect at the scene
According to local authorities, Welsh was found with multiple gunshot wounds when officers arrived at the scene shortly before midnight.
The suspect, a 23-year-old man, was present in the apartment and was arrested at the scene.
He has been charged with first-degree intentional homicide, endangering safety by the use of a dangerous weapon, and disorderly conduct while armed.
The relationship between Welsh and the suspect remains unclear, though police have stated that they knew each other.
Welsh was entering her senior year at UW-Whitewater, where she was majoring in management while excelling as a standout member of the Warhawk gymnastics team.
Her untimely death has left the university community grieving, with Chancellor Corey King expressing deep sorrow in a message to students and faculty.
“The news of Kara’s death is heartbreaking for our close-knit university community,” King wrote.
“It is a time when we are all called upon to support one another, to process, and to grieve.”
The university has announced that flags will be flown at half-staff on September 3rd, the start of the fall semester, in Welsh’s memory.
Additionally, counseling services have been made available to students, faculty, and staff as they cope with this tragic loss.
Kara Welsh, a 21-year-old University of Wisconsin-Whitewater student and a national gymnastics champion, was shot and killed late Friday night. https://t.co/W9Qb12TWyu
— USA TODAY Sports (@usatodaysports) September 2, 2024
Kara Welsh was a recognized college gymnast
Welsh, a native of Plainfield, Illinois, had made a significant impact on the UW-Whitewater gymnastics program since her arrival as a freshman.
Known for her powerful performances on the vault, she held four of the top eight scores in the event in the program’s history.
Her remarkable achievements included winning the national title in 2023 and battling back from illness to compete in the 2024 season, where she tied the program record on the vault with a score of 9.875.
Coach Jen Regan and Athletic Director Ryan Callahan both reflected on Welsh’s impact on the Warhawk community.
“Kara was a powerful athlete, dedicated teammate, and the light in everyone’s dark days,”Regan said.
“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.”
A GoFundMe page has been established to support Welsh’s parents, Nancy and Tom Welsh, and her sister Kaeli during this difficult time.
The page describes Kara as someone who brought joy to everyone she met and was excited to begin her senior year as a gymnast at UW-Whitewater.
source:marca.com
