A Loves Park man has been charged in the shooting death of a University of Wisconsin-Whitewater gymnast from Plainfield.
Chad Richards, 23, was charged Saturday in Whitewater, Wisconsin, after allegedly shooting 21-year-old Kara Welsh in an apartment near the university campus.
Welsh, 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 about 11:55 p.m. in an apartment in the 100 block of West Whitewater Street. She was shot several times and was pronounced dead, the Whitewater Police Department said.
Police said Welsh had gotten into an "altercation" with Richards, and he was arrested at the scene.
Richards 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.
