21-year-old Kara Welsh, a Wisconsin-Whitewater gymnast who won an individual title on the vault in 2023, was found dead following a fatal shooting that took place at her off-campus home, about a block away from the university campus.
When they arrived at the scene, the police found the suspect, whom they believe Welsh knew and who was later identified by her friends as her boyfriend, as per the New York Post.
“Also present in the apartment was a 23-year-old male who was known to the deceased female,” the statement released by the police said.
“Through investigation, it was determined that leading up to the shooting, an altercation had occurred between the two.”
The investigation is ongoing, and as per another statement by the officials, the 23-year-old man was arrested and charged with first-degree intentional homicide, endangering safety by the use of a dangerous weapon and disorderly conduct while armed. His bail was set at $1 million, with the judge describing him as a “significant flight risk.”
Welsh was a prominent member of the college’s gymnastics team and called the “Phenom on the Vault.”
Her friends are still in disbelief and are left utterly heartbroken.
“Absolutely heartbreaking to receive a phone call like this one. Kara, you deserved the world and more,” Welsh’s friend Brooks, who in her earlier years trained with Welsh at the Aspire Gymnastics Academy, said. “Wish I could just see you one more time. Wish I could laugh with you just one more time. Wish I could hug you one more time.”
The Aspire Gymnastics Academy paid tribute to the young star with a touching post and photos of Welsh.
“As Kara grew, so did Aspire. She was a constant in a sport that is filled with ups and downs. She was full of life and full of personality,” the training center shared. “Kara had a way of communicating through facial expressions that was second to none. Aspire lost a piece of its heart today. Kara, we love you.”
In a statement, Corey King, chancellor at UWW, called Welsh “a standout member of the Warhawk gymnastics team,” adding that “news of Kara’s death is heartbreaking for our close-knit university community.”
A friend of Welsh wrote, “I hate that evil touched this sweet girl’s life. The Welsh girls showed us how to be gym sisters but so much more. Kara was all heart. The loss is unfathomable.”
A GoFundMe has been set up to help the grieving family.
“Kara had a unique ability to bring joy to any person she crossed paths with, always putting a smile on people’s faces with her sense of humor, unwavering support and sweet disposition,” it read.
“Kara, 21 years old, was excited to be in her rising senior year as a gymnast at UW-Whitewater which was abruptly cut short on August 30th, by a heartless act of violence.”
We are so very sorry for the loss of Kara Welsh, may she rest in peace