Man charged with homicide in killing of gymnastics champion Kara Welsh

NEW DELHI: A 23-year-old man, Chad Richards, has been charged with first-degree intentional homicide in the fatal shooting of Kara Welsh, a 21-year-old national gymnastics champion. The incident occurred in Richards' apartment near the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater campus on Aug. 30.According to the criminal complaint, Welsh suffered multiple gunshot wounds following an altercation. Richards called 911, and Welsh was found in a pool of blood. He told investigators that during an argument, "Welsh grabbed his gun from a nightstand. Richards said he wrestled the gun away and shot Welsh because he 'feared for his life,'" as stated in the complaint.Investigators found a handgun and shell casings on the apartment floor, and Richards was later arrested. He informed investigators that Welsh was his girlfriend. Richards, who is from Loves Park, Illinois, was listed on the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater 2021-22 wrestling team roster.Welsh, a native of Plainfield, Illinois, was a management major in the university's College of Business and Economics. She was also a member of the Warhawk gymnastics team and had won the individual national title on vault at the NCAA Division III championships the previous year.Richards made an initial appearance via video in Walworth County Court on Friday. His attorney, Gibson Hatch, could not be reached for comment by the Associated Press. Richards is being held on a $1 million bond, with his preliminary hearing scheduled for Oct. 28.