A 23-year-old man has been accused of first-degree intentional homicide in the shooting of a national gymnastics champion at his apartment near the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater campus. Chad Richards appeared in court via video for the first time on Friday in Walworth County. The victim, 21-year-old Kara Welsh, sustained multiple gunshot wounds after an altercation on August 30, as detailed in a criminal complaint.
Welsh was discovered in a pool of blood after Richards phoned 911. He told authorities that during an argument, Welsh took his gun from a nightstand, leading him to wrestle the gun away and shoot Welsh because he feared for his life, according to the complaint. A handgun and shell casings were found on the apartment floor, resulting in Richards’ arrest. He informed investigators that Welsh was his girlfriend.
Richards, a resident of Loves Park, Illinois, was part of the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater wrestling team for the 2021-22 season. Welsh, originally from Plainfield, Illinois, was a management major in the College of Business and Economics at the university. She was a member of the Warhawk gymnastics team and secured the individual national vault title at the NCAA Division III championships last year.
Richards is being held on a $1 million bond, with a preliminary hearing set for October 28. The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater campus is situated about 50 miles (80 kilometers) west of Milwaukee. Authorities have not yet commented on the case.
