John Jefferson
Left inset: Kara Welsh (University of Wisconsin-Whitewater). Right: Chad Richards in jail orange (WISN).
Authorities in Wisconsin have finally identified the suspect under arrest in the shooting death last Friday of 21-year-old college gymnast Kara Welsh as a communications student at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater who was on the wrestling team.
Chad Richards, a 23-year-old from Loves Park, Ill., remains in custody after appearing in Walworth County court on Tuesday as Welsh’s older sister Kaeli revealed how devastated she was to lose her “best friend” in such a violent way, saying through tears “I truly have no idea what I’m going to do without her,” local ABC affiliate WISN reported.
The Whitewater Police Department on Tuesday said that Richards is expected to be formally charged later this week with first-degree intentional homicide, a Class A felony which could lead to a sentence of life in prison , disorderly conduct while armed, and endangering safety by the use of a dangerous weapon.
The homicide investigation began Friday night, when Welsh, a senior at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater from Plainfield, Ill., was shot multiple times and killed at her off-campus apartment following an alleged “altercation” with Richards, whom investigators believed she knew. He was allegedly at the scene when cops arrived.
It remains unclear exactly what led to the shooting, but it is clear how deeply Welsh’s death is felt locally and beyond.
We offer our deepest condolences to Kara’s family, friends and teammates at @UWWGymnastics. pic.twitter.com/5XsUEway2n
— USA Gymnastics (@USAGym) September 1, 2024
A university gymnastics profile for Welsh detailed that she enrolled at UW-Whitewater “because she fell in love with the campus and the people.”
In statements, the school said Welsh, a senior and business management major, was a “national champion and two-time All-American” and her coach called her 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,” said Jen Regan. “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 campaign started on behalf of Kara’s mom Nancy said she was a “daughter, sister, dear friend and teammate.”
“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,” a post said. “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.”
Richards, the university’s website shows, was on the wrestling team from 2020 to 2022.
Left: Chad Richards (University of Wisconsin-Whitewater). Right: a Whitewater Police Department mug shot.
A profile for Richards said that he was a high school wrestler who “chose to attend UW-Whitewater for the wrestling program.”
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