Loved ones are completely shattered by the “heartbreaking” death of Kara Welsh, a 21-year-old star gymnast, who was shot to death by a man identified by college friends as her boyfriend.
The national champion was found dead in her off-campus apartment on August 30, and a friend of the couple says he “beats” himself up for not sharing “just one more” moment that maybe “could change” what happened.
Keep reading to learn about Welsh’s tragic death.
On Saturday August 31, Sierra Brooks learned Kara Welsh, her best friend and former teammate, was shot to death the night before.
“I can’t even wrap my head around how someone could do this, let alone to such a beautiful person,” she writes in a tribute to the 21-year-old Welsh, a University of Wisconsin-Whitewater (UWW) student who was majoring in business and economics.
Welsh, a gymnast, also won an individual title on the vault in 2023.
According to a statement, the student, from Plainfield, Illinois, was found dead in an off-campus apartment about 11:54 p.m. on August 30.
She was shot multiple times.
When police arrived, a 23-year-old male who was known to Welsh was also in the home and “it was determined that leading up to the shooting, an altercation had occurred between the two.”
‘Heartbreaking’
“Absolutely heartbreaking to receive a phone call like this one. Kara, you deserved the world and more,” shares Brooks, who in her earlier years trained with Welsh at the Aspire Gymnastics Academy. “Wish I could just see you one more time. Wish I could laugh with you just one more time. Wish I could hug you one more time.”
Aspire also shared several photos of the star gymnast along with a touching tribute for the young woman on their Facebook site.
“As Kara grew, so did Aspire. She was a constant in a sport that is filled with ups and downs. She was full of life and full of personality,” the training center writes. “Kara had a way of communicating through facial expressions that was second to none. Aspire lost a piece of its heart today. Kara, we love you.”
Corey King, chancellor at UWW, released a statement on August 31 and calling Welsh “a standout member of the Warhawk gymnastics team,” he shares that “news of Kara’s death is heartbreaking for our close-knit university community.”
“I hate that evil touched this sweet girl’s life,” writes a friend on Facebook, who shares the tribute posted by Aspire. Referring to Welsh’s sister Kaeli, the netizen continues, “The Welsh girls showed us how to be gym sisters but so much more. Kara was all heart. The loss is unfathomable.”
‘I beat myself up’
Police have not yet released the name of the suspect as he has not yet been officially charged.
But friends reveal the pair were dating, and the man, identified as Chad Richards, was helping Welsh move into her apartment.
“Sometimes I beat myself up, if I was able to see them that day maybe…just one more joke one more memory we could make…could change…” says Brayten Wilkerson, a friend of both Welsh and the suspect, who was a member of UWW wrestling team. Speaking with ABC affiliate WISN, Wilkerson continues, “Kara was a sweetheart. She was one of the best people you could meet. Her family did a great job raising her – a wonderful woman.”
Gwen Stefani, 54, Poses in Jumpsuit with Revealing Neckline beside Spouse: Pics of Debated ‘Cowgirl’ Look
Social media fans were recently drawn to Gwen Stefani’s ensemble from the song cover she shared with Blake Shelton. Many others posted their thoughts on social media.
Gwen Stefani and her husband Blake Shelton recently shared an Instagram photo that captured the attention of fans and social media users. Stefani posted a picture of herself on the couch wearing an easygoing yet stylish outfit.
The singer of “The Sweet Escape” accessorized with a bold necklace and brown platform sandals to go with her bikini top and denim jumpsuit. Shelton, meanwhile, casually posed while picking up a guitar.
Instagram users were divided by the group’s disagreement, which was evident in the comments area. “What is the purpose of her bra being visible? She is really cheesy! One user remarked, “If you want kids to look up to you, you need some class. Dress like an adult with children.”
You’re unable to perceive this for yourself because you’re so overwhelmed. Would you wear something similar? asked a second person. A separate Instagram user, meanwhile, had an own interpretation on Stefani’s costume. “This is a more subdued version of the brand she has used her entire career [sic].” She’s not suitable for everyone,” the observer said.
The cover art for their most recent song together, “Purple Irises,” which was published on February 9, 2024, was their shot together. The couple also released a behind-the-scenes video from their photo session, in which Sefani’s “cowgirl” outfit was observed by one viewer.
The popularity of the song Stefani recently shared on Instagram only serves to accentuate the beauty of her appearance. The couple’s collaboration, “Purple Irises,” has soared to the top of this week’s music rankings.
In a Billboard poll, fans overwhelmingly selected the couple’s duet above songs by well-known performers like Usher—who wowed during the 2024 Super Bowl halftime show—and country music phenomenon Kacey Musgraves.
The Super Bowl TikTok Tailgate featured a performance by Stefani and Shelton of “Purple Irises,” which thrilled fans immediately before the big game on Sunday, February 11. Other songs that Stefani and Shelton have worked on together include “Happy Anywhere” and “Nobody But You.”
The couple’s shared emotions and experiences are reflected in their love songs. In the past, Stefani wrote, “Never knew a love like this,” in the caption of a Polaroid picture she posted on Instagram with Shelton. She also mentioned Stefani’s beauty and her husband’s kind gesture of gifting her purple flowers.
It’s interesting to note that Blake Shelton and Gwen Stefani celebrated the New Year’s Eve apart, which worried some interested parties. But they were forced to do so because of their job responsibilities.
https://googleads.g.doubleclick.net/pagead/ads?gdpr=0&client=ca-pub-3764810839868565&output=html&h=280&slotname=4702153990&adk=3977988873&adf=686989669&pi=t.ma~as.4702153990&w=730&abgtt=6&fwrn=4&fwrnh=100&lmt=1723568293&rafmt=1&format=730×280&url=https%3A%2F%2Favokaddo.com%2F2024%2F07%2F16%2Fgwen-stefani-54-poses-in-jumpsuit-with-revealing-neckline-beside-spouse-pics-of-debated-cowgirl-look%2F%3Ffbclid%3DIwY2xjawEob2JleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHUjMlqpsr3BHcpZhtyeyRjcxEylhOoUdCUM4zRPXRkbvFKFAp444IYNtYw_aem_9SHKYK5o444TWmSofMSq9w&fwr=0&fwrattr=true&rpe=1&resp_fmts=3&wgl=1&uach=WyJXaW5kb3dzIiwiMTUuMC4wIiwieDg2IiwiIiwiMTEyLjAuNTE5Ny42MCIsbnVsbCwwLG51bGwsIjY0IixbWyJOb3QvQSlCcmFuZCIsIjguMC4wLjAiXSxbIkNocm9taXVtIiwiMTI2LjAuNjQ3OC4xODMiXSxbIk9wZXJhIEdYIiwiMTEyLjAuNTE5Ny42MCJdXSwwXQ..&dt=1723568150181&bpp=1&bdt=1748&idt=1360&shv=r20240807&mjsv=m202408070101&ptt=9&saldr=aa&abxe=1&cookie=ID%3Dcf59a1ce51a438cf%3AT%3D1723566560%3ART%3D1723568140%3AS%3DALNI_MYJaJOB3bsPSunIOMN7MD4c8CDm-Q&eo_id_str=ID%3D0cc428cd87fc972c%3AT%3D1723566560%3ART%3D1723568140%3AS%3DAA-AfjYewfrC42NEkEIcSuBseT-j&prev_fmts=0x0%2C1100x280%2C1481x759%2C730x183%2C1005x124%2C730x183%2C730x183%2C730x183&nras=3&correlator=5669989362680&frm=20&pv=1&u_tz=420&u_his=2&u_h=864&u_w=1536&u_ah=864&u_aw=1536&u_cd=24&u_sd=1.25&dmc=8&adx=190&ady=5827&biw=1481&bih=759&scr_x=0&scr_y=2795&eid=44759875%2C44759926%2C44759837%2C95334525%2C95334830%2C95337870%2C95338229%2C31084187%2C95336267%2C31078663%2C31078668%2C31078670&oid=2&psts=AOrYGskvEUkyDG9SxIczT725WmkkTsndnLEE3Q7d1SBN-m3NilKlDowOAjUxYf_8u0ReeOxGp-MBtUWzFz9IyLnODtwr0g%2CAOrYGsnNH9d7MxPNsbBDkR0Y2rL5O6InEtcXmhE5efDps02zgz9_0Peu-7gDjjbWyoNVZnDgdjPR13mt2rywQTDUg1cRsoEiUrPxgtoonksWA29zG10%2CAOrYGslCDbit4m61uRJcrp2RIFPlx4X5XQx1eMtpRx9OT4YGySPqJmMXpwHLbUzo55utfykvVakRrm4WKC2MAMW6-BdCJg%2CAOrYGsn3Hgo3_lolGsOn7DcZurbUP0MzZfeeISX6VxZ-_rxyXZAbuBOHIbxKc93aN0jY1Ke9NmLYLoMbQ3knlVwTvf5dz-JI%2CAOrYGsmqHUKxkRh1N6LUoiJXyEXZawSvF75WxgLerm63k8c8PnLVkui8ygHX55IujPRJwv3Yj0pR1yvM60PNRtj6I6qPyDYU%2CAOrYGslsuzGY7wlBDHY3M3CmSjcuMM2QW5RYyaq60tXKYeJH7r37zgTMTEC65J7ksAie-LG5DfneW-FV1zLOtYfaOkyNO-DE&pvsid=3025802432086338&tmod=495605731&uas=1&nvt=1&ref=https%3A%2F%2Fl.facebook.com%2F&fc=1920&brdim=0%2C0%2C0%2C0%2C1536%2C0%2C1536%2C864%2C1495%2C759&vis=1&rsz=%7C%7CopeEbr%7C&abl=CS&pfx=0&fu=128&bc=31&bz=1.03&psd=W251bGwsbnVsbCxudWxsLDNd&nt=1&ifi=7&uci=a!7&btvi=6&fsb=1&dtd=M
Leave a Reply