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.
After all the heartbreak, Jason Momoa found new love, and you’ll surely recognize her
About two years following his formal divorce from his ex-wife Lisa Bonet, Jason Momoa revealed his new relationship to the public. On Tuesday, May 21, he and actress Adria Arjona were seen cuddling on the PDA. They had declared their romance official on Instagram two days earlier.
When Momoa told fans he had been dating for a while during his appearance at the Basingstoke Comic Con in England in early May of this year, many began to speculate that the two were dating. “I’m in a relationship rather seriously. He said to the assembly, “I’ve been in a relationship for a time. “I’m really enjoying [my] privacy because everyone gives a fuck these days, whereas nobody did back in the day.”
The Aquaman star shared a number of pictures with Arjona recently, including some from their vacation to Japan. One of the photos shows the two on a beach, grinning. He tenderly referred to Arjona as “mi amor” in the post.
“You are a dream come true, Japan—you completely amazed me. We are very appreciative of everyone who opened their houses, allowing us to create memories with both old and new friends and go on yet another incredible journey with our beloved. Motorcycles and chaos on the road. All of my love, J,” the performer wrote.
Arjona herself has a Hollywod background. She has a number of noteworthy appearances, including those in Life of the Party, Pacific Rim Uprising, and a regular character in True Detective. Her breakout role was that of Dorothy Gale in the Emerald City adaption of the Oz book.Despite the fact that the show was canceled after just one season, she has since landed many important parts.
makes an appearance in the recently released comedy-action Netflix film Hit Man, which stars Glen Powell and was directed by Richard Linklater.
Momoa’s stepdaughter from his marriage to Bonet, Zoë Kravitz, directed Blink Twice, one of her most recent ventures.
Edgardo Canales, a lawyer, was Arjona’s husband. They had a private relationship, and no information about their breakup has been made public.
Momoa dated Eiza González for a few months in 2022 prior to Arjona.
The new pair appeared in the 2021 Netflix original series Sweet Girl together.
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