Chad Richards, a 23-year-old from Loves Park, Illinois, has been charged with first-degree intentional homicide, use of a dangerous weapon, following the fatal shooting of his girlfriend, Kara Welsh, near the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater on Aug. 30. As reported by CBS 58, Welsh was a senior and a star gymnast at the university. The criminal complaint described a tragic scene at a local apartment where Welsh was found in a fetal position on the ground with multiple gunshot wounds.
The complaint further elaborates on the night of the incident, revealing that the altercation between Welsh and Richards escalated to violence. Richards, in his statement, feared for his life during a struggle with Welsh for a handgun, which resulted in the fatal shooting. He also admitted to punching a door in anger during the argument, as indicated by evidence at the scene. CBS 58 noted that Welsh had suffered eight gunshot wounds in various locations, including her neck, wrist, and abdomen.
On campus, the news of Welsh's death has deeply unsettled the student body. "It's definitely crazy to hear that allegedly he did shoot her to death. It is, it could've been anybody," UW-Whitewater junior Ashlee Erikson told CBS 58. In light of the tragedy, students held a private vigil to honor Welsh, which was seen as a way to bring healing to the community according to another student, Kai Ramirez.
Richards was apprehended the day following the shooting. During an initial court appearance via video link, he was represented by attorney Gibson Hatch of Middleton. The courtroom was attended by members of Welsh's family. According to Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, a preliminary hearing is scheduled for Oct. 28, where prosecutors will present evidence to justify their charges.
Authorities discovered Welsh's body and the signs of the preceding conflict. An autopsy concluded that Welsh had been shot a total of eight times. Richards's account to the police stated that the two had fought, and he fired the gun after Welsh grabbed it, expressing fear for his survival. FOX 11 Online conveyed that following the incident, Richards called his father before contacting the authorities.
