National Champion Gymnast Kara Welsh Fatally Shot in Campus-Area Altercation, Boyfriend Charged with Murder: Police

A national title-winning University of Wisconsin-Whitewater gymnast was fatally shot and police announced a suspect has been arrested.

According to Whitewater police, Kara Welsh, 21, was shot after an altercation at a campus-area apartment on Aug. 30 by Chad T. Richards, her 23-year-old boyfriend.

Authorities said Richards was present when officers responded to a report of a gunshot victim at the apartment.

When officers arrived, a woman, later identified as Welsh, had been shot multiple times and was dead, officials said.

“Through investigation, it was determined that leading up to the shooting, an altercation had occurred between the two," police said.

The shooting took place at a residence, about a mile east of the school’s main grounds, listed on a university web page as off-campus housing.

Welsh was a business management major from Illinois. She won an individual national title on the vault for the gymnastics team last year, according to the school.

In a statement from the university’s athletic department, the victim was a vault “phenom” who holds four of the eight highest vault scores in the team’s history.

"To put into words the impact Kara had on the Warhawk community is impossible," coach Jen Regan said in the statement. "A powerful athlete, dedicated teammate, and the light in everyone's dark days, Kara truly lifted each and every one of us up in her time as a Warhawk gymnast."

In a message to students, faculty and staff members, University Chancellor Corey King said, “We know the news of Kara’s death is heartbreaking for our close-knit university community. It is a time when we are all called upon to support one another, to process, and to grieve.”

King said memorial services will be announced when details are available and counseling is available to those who need it.

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Richards was arrested and charged with first-degree intentional homicide, endangering safety while armed, and disorderly conduct while armed, police said.

He was booked into the Walworth County jail and officials said the charges have been forwarded to the Walworth County District Attorney’s office.

Because this is an active investigation, police said they will not be releasing any additional information at this time.