Kara Welsh, a 21-year-old star gymnast, has left her loved ones devastated after she was shot and killed. College friends have identified the person responsible as her boyfriend.
Kara, a national champion, was found dead in her off-campus apartment on August 30. A friend of the couple said he wishes he had spent “just one more” moment with her, hoping it could have “changed” what happened.
On August 31, Sierra Brooks, Kara’s best friend and former teammate, learned the tragic news that Kara had been shot the night before.
“I can’t believe someone could do this, especially to such a beautiful person,” Sierra wrote in a tribute to Kara. Kara was a student at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, where she was majoring in business and economics.
In 2023, Kara won an individual gymnastics title on the vault.
Kara Welsh, a student from Plainfield, Illinois, was found dead in her off-campus apartment around 11:54 p.m. on August 30. She had been shot several times.
When police arrived, they found a 23-year-old man, who knew Kara, in the home. It was determined that an argument had taken place between the two before the shooting.
“Heartbreaking”
Sierra Brooks, Kara’s friend who trained with her at Aspire Gymnastics Academy, shared her grief. “Absolutely heartbreaking to get a call like this. Kara, you deserved so much more. I wish I could see, laugh, and hug you one more time.”
Aspire Gymnastics Academy posted several photos of Kara along with a tribute on their Facebook page.
“As Kara grew, so did Aspire. She was a steady presence in a sport full of ups and downs. She was full of life and personality,” the center wrote. “Her facial expressions spoke volumes. Aspire lost a part of its heart today. Kara, we love you.”
Corey King, the chancellor at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater (UWW), released a statement on August 31, calling Kara Welsh “a standout member of the Warhawk gymnastics team.” He added that “news of Kara’s death is heartbreaking for our close-knit university community.”
A friend on Facebook also expressed sorrow, sharing a tribute posted by Aspire Gymnastics Academy. “I hate that evil touched this sweet girl’s life,” they wrote. Referring to Kara’s sister Kaeli, they added, “The Welsh sisters showed us what it means to be gym sisters, but so much more. Kara was all heart. This loss is unimaginable.”
‘I beat myself up’
The police have not yet released the suspect’s name, as he has not been officially charged.
However, friends revealed that Kara was dating the man, identified as Chad Richards, and he was helping her move into her apartment.
Brayten Wilkerson, a friend of both Kara Welsh and the suspect, expressed his sorrow, saying, “Sometimes I beat myself up, thinking if I had seen them that day, maybe… just one more joke, one more memory, could have changed things.” Wilkerson, a member of the UWW wrestling team, told ABC’s WISN, “Kara was a sweetheart. She was one of the best people you could meet. Her family raised her to be a wonderful woman.”
A GoFundMe organizer shared that loved ones are “deeply saddened” by Kara’s death. They said, “Kara had a special ability to bring joy to everyone she met, always making people smile with her sense of humor, support, and kind personality.”
“Kara, 21, was looking forward to her senior year as a gymnast at UW-Whitewater, but her life was tragically cut short on August 30 by a senseless act of violence.”
The Whitewater Police Department stated that charges for first-degree intentional homicide, endangering safety with a dangerous weapon, and disorderly conduct while armed are being sent to the Walworth County District Attorney’s Office.
I Planned the Perfect Surprise Party, But My Husband’s Reaction Left the Room in Complete Silence
When Maria planned a surprise party for her husband’s 40th birthday, she thought it would be a night to remember for all the right reasons. She invited close friends and family, decorated the house, and made sure everything was perfect for his big day. But when the doorbell rang, something unexpected happened.
My husband’s 40th birthday was coming up, and I wanted to throw him a surprise party. I told him I would be out of town on his birthday, and we agreed to celebrate on another day.
The night before his birthday, I pretended to pack my bags and leave for the airport. But instead of traveling, I stayed overnight at my friend Karen’s house.
As I packed, Karen asked, “Are you sure this will work?”
“Absolutely,” I said. “Tom thinks I’m visiting my sister.”
The next day, I got up early to prepare everything. Tom usually came home around 6 p.m., so I invited friends and family to arrive at 5. By 4:45, guests began showing up, starting with his brother, Jim.
“Need any help?” Jim asked, carrying a box of decorations.
I handed him streamers and said, “Sure, hang these up.”
Soon, Tom’s best friend, Dave, arrived with his wife, Lisa. “Wow, Maria, you’ve outdone yourself,” Lisa said, admiring the decorations.
“Thanks! Can you help with the balloons?” I asked. Everyone worked together, and by 5:30, the house looked amazing, with streamers, balloons, and a big banner that said, “Happy 40th, Tom!”
At 5:45, I gathered everyone in the kitchen. “Tom will be here soon. Let’s hide,” I said, feeling excited. We turned off the lights and found hiding spots, waiting in the dark. My heart raced when I heard the key in the lock.
The door opened, but instead of Tom, I heard a woman’s voice. “Do you think he’ll like it?”
My heart sank. Who was this woman? For a second, I thought Tom was cheating on me. The lights came on, and we all gasped.
Standing in the doorway was a young couple, just as shocked as we were. The woman held a suitcase, and the man had a set of keys.
“Who are you?” I asked.
“Who are we? Who are you?” the woman responded, equally confused.
Jim stepped forward. “We’re here for a surprise party. Who are you?”
The man replied, “We rented this house on Airbnb.”
My face went pale. “Airbnb? This is our house!”
Dave scratched his head. “Tom must have listed it after Maria said she was leaving.”
The woman looked at me sympathetically. “Oh no, we didn’t know. We’re so sorry. We’ll leave right away.”
“No, it’s okay,” I said, trying to stay calm. “Let’s figure this out.”
The couple, still confused, stepped inside, and everyone started whispering, trying to understand what happened.
Karen came over and whispered, “Maria, what’s going on?”
“I have no idea,” I whispered back. “Tom must have put the house on Airbnb when I told him I’d be away.”
Tom’s sister, Susan, spoke up. “Let’s all sit down and talk this out.”
We moved to the living room, the party decorations now feeling out of place. The couple introduced themselves as Jake and Emily.
“We’re really sorry,” Jake said. “We thought the house was empty.”
Emily nodded. “We didn’t mean to crash your party.”
I smiled. “It’s not your fault. This is just a big mix-up.”
I called Tom, and he answered cheerfully. “Hey, honey! I thought you’d be on your flight.”
“Tom,” I said, trying to stay calm, “did you list our house on Airbnb?”
There was a pause. “Uh, yeah. I thought we could make some extra money since you were out of town.”
I took a deep breath. “Tom, I’m not out of town. I was planning a surprise party for you. Now, we’ve got guests and an Airbnb couple here.”
There was silence before Tom finally said, “Oh no, I’m so sorry. I didn’t know.”
I looked at Jake and Emily, who sat awkwardly on the couch. “What do we do now?”
“I’m coming home. We’ll figure it out,” Tom said.
I turned to everyone. “Tom’s on his way. We’ll sort this out soon.”
Jake stood up. “We can find another place to stay.”
Lisa shook her head. “No, stay. There’s plenty of food and drinks. Join us.”
Emily smiled. “Are you sure?”
“Absolutely. The more, the merrier,” I said.
Tom arrived fifteen minutes later, looking sheepish. “I’m really sorry,” he said. “I just wanted to save money for a vacation.”
Susan laughed. “Well, you certainly surprised us.”
Jake and Emily decided to stay, and soon everyone was laughing and having a great time.
As the night went on, I smiled. Despite the chaos, it turned out to be a night none of us would forget. And as for the vacation, Tom and I would definitely be taking one, with a funny story to tell for years to come.
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