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.
Man accused of homicide in the death of gymnastics champion Kara Welsh
