Gymnast Kara Welsh Dead at 21 After Shooting

The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater community is in mourning.

Kara Welsh, a 21-year-old management student and a member of the school's Warhawk gymnastics team, was fatally shot in an apartment off campus by a man she knew, Whitewater Police said. The suspect has been arrested on suspicion of murder. 

The police said in a statement that Aug. 30, just before midnight, officers arrived on the scene in response to a report of a gunshot victim and found Welsh deceased with multiple gunshot wounds.

"Also present in the apartment was a 23-year-old male who was known to the deceased female," the statement said. "Through investigation, it was determined that leading up to the shooting, an altercation had occurred between the two."

The man, who was not identified, was arrested and charged with first-degree intentional homicide, endangering safety by the use of a dangerous weapon and disorderly conduct while armed, the police said in another statement. The investigation is ongoing, they added.

University of Wisconsin-Whitewater Chancellor Corey A. King also released a statement about Kara following her death.

"Kara Welsh, age 21, from Plainfield, Illinois, died in a shooting off campus on Friday, Aug. 30, 2024," he wrote. "Kara was majoring in management in our College of Business and Economics and was a standout member of the Warhawk gymnastics team, winning an individual national title on the vault in 2023."

He added that counseling services will be made available to UW-Whitewater students, faculty and staff and that the school's flag will fly at half-staff in Welsh's memory Sept. 3, when the fall semester begins.

UW-Whitewater Athletics shared a tribute to Kara on Instagram, including a photo of her in one of her gymnastics leotards. "Our hearts are broken with the tragic loss of one of our own," the post read, "@uwwhitewatergymnastics senior Kara Welsh."

Welsh is survived by her parents, Nancy and Tom Welsh and sister Kaeli. A GoFundMe has been set up to help the family.

"Kara was a daughter, sister, dear friend and teammate who grew up in Plainfield, Illinois," it read. "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."

The page continued, "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 completely heartbroken for our beloved Welsh family — Nancy, Tom, and Kaeli as they navigate this incredibly difficult time."