A Plainfield woman was shot to death Friday near the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater campus where she was a student. A man has been charged in her death.
Kara Welsh, 21, who was a national champion and two-time All-American gymnast, was days from starting her senior year.
“To put into words the impact Kara had on the Warhawk community is impossible,” her coach Jen Regan said in a 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. 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.”
Welsh was found Friday in an apartment in the 100 block of West Whitewater Street. She had sustained multiple gunshot wounds and was pronounced dead, the Whitewater Police Department said.
Police said Welsh had gotten into an “altercation” with a 23-year-old man, and he was arrested at the scene.
The man was charged with first-degree intentional homicide, endangering safety by the use of a dangerous weapon and disorderly conduct while armed, police said.
Welsh was majoring in business administration and joined the gymnastics team as a freshman. She competed in vault and floor exercises, the university said.
Flags at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater will be at half-staff Tuesday in memory of Welsh.
A GoFundMe has been set up to help with funeral expenses.