THIS WEEK. TRIBUTES ARE POURING IN FOR STAR GYMNAST AND U.W. WHITEWATER STUDENT KARA WELSH. POLICE SAY SHE WAS SHOT AND KILLED FRIDAY IN AN APARTMENT NEAR THE UWW CAMPUS, JUST FOUR DAYS BEFORE THE START OF THE NEW SEMESTER. 12 NEWS REPORTER EMILY POFAHL SPOKE WITH WELSH’S LONG-TIME COACH. >> SHE WAS A BULLDOG. FROM RIGHT AWAY, HARDEST WORKER. VERY RESPECTFUL. EMILY: A HARD WORKER AND STEADFAST FRIEND ON AND OFF THE MAT. THAT’S HOW 21-YEAR-OLD GYMNASTICS STAR AND UW WHITEWATER STUDENT KARA WELSH IS BEING REMEMBERED. >> YOU SEE SOMETHING LIKE THIS AND SHE WAS MAKING THE RIGHT CHOICES AND SHE WAS DOING THE RIGHT STUFF. IT’S JUST HARD TO WRAP MY HEAD AROUND. ANNA LEIGH: -- EMILY WHITEWATER : POLICE SAY WELSH WAS SHOT AND KILLED FRIDAY NIGHT IN AN APARTMENT NEAR MAIN AND WHITEWATER STREETS. LESS THAN A MILE FROM CAMPUS. OFFICERS ARRESTED A 23-YEAR-OLD MAN AT THE APARTMENT. POLICE SAY WELSH AND THE MAN HAD A FIGHT BEFORE THE SHOOTING. SHE WAS A STANDOUT MEMBER OF U.W. WHITEWATER’S GYMNASTICS TEAM, AND WON A NATIONAL TITLE LAST YEAR. >> YOU KNOW, SHE WAS GOING INTO HER SENIOR YEAR. WE BROUGHT THE TEAM IN YESTERDAY AND WE TOLD THE TEAM, RIGHT AWAY YOU JUST KNEW THERE WERE SO MANY PEOPLE THAT WERE IMPACTED BY KARA’S PERSONALITY, HER LEADERSHIP. EMILY: NICK BECKER COACHED WELSH FOR NINE YEARS, AND SAYS THE BOND SHE SHARED WITH HER TEAMMATES WAS SPECIAL. >> THEY ARE EACH OTHER’S BEST FRIENDS. THEY ARE ALL LIKE SISTERS. I’M SORRY. EMILY: A LOSS THAT’S INDESCRIBABLE. AND A COMMUNITY TRYING TO BE STRONG FOR WELSH’S FAMILY. >> I HOPE PARENTS MAKE SURE THAT THEY HUG THEIR KIDS. IT IS JUST SO, JUST CRAZY. EMILY: WHITEWATER POLICE SAY THE 23-YEAR-OLD MAN IS BEING HELD IN THE WALWORTH COUNTY JAIL, AND THEY’VE REFERRED MULTIPLE CHARGES TO THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY’S OFFICE, INCLUDING FIRST DEGREE INTENTIONAL HOMICIDE. POLICE ASK ANYONE WITH INFORMATION ABOUT THE SHOOTING TO GIVE THEM A CALL. CYREIA: THE SCHOOL SAYS ITS MAKING COUNSELORS AVAILABLE TO THOSE IN NEED. FLAGS WILL BE FLOWN AT HALF STAFF ON THE FIRST DAY
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College star gymnast shot and killed near Wisconsin campus
Tributes are pouring in for star gymnast and University of Wisconsin-Whitewater student Kara Welsh.The 21-year-old was shot and killed late Friday, Aug. 30, in an apartment near campus, according to police in Whitewater, Wisconsin. "She was a bulldog. Just right away, the hardest worker. Very respectful," said Nick Becker, Welsh's coach for nine years at Aspire Gymnastics Academy.Becker said Welsh's dream was to thrive in college athletics, and she achieved it before she died. Welsh won the vault title at the WIAC Championship meet and qualified for nationals as an individual. She went on to win the national title in the event with a score of 9.825."She was making the right choices, and she was doing the right stuff. It's just hard to wrap my head around," Becker said.According to Whitewater police, Welsh was shot and killed Friday night just before midnight in an apartment near Main and Whitewater streets. The apartment is less than a mile from campus. WPD said officers arrested a 23-year-old man at the apartment. Welsh and the man had a fight before the shooting, according to police. Becker told Milwaukee sister station WISN that the apartment the pair were in belonged to the 23-year-old man."There are no words to describe the void we all feel in our hearts, but Kara's legacy will live on through Warhawk gymnastics forever," said UW-Whitewater gymnastics coach Jen Regan. "She was going into her senior year," said Ryan Callahan, the athletic director at UW-Whitewater. "We brought the team in yesterday, and we told the team, and right away, you just knew there were so many people impacted by Kara's personality, her leadership."Becker said Welsh was a beloved role model and mentor at Aspire Gymnastics and always knew how to keep her team's spirits high."They are each others' best friends. They are all like sisters," Becker said. Whitewater police say the 23-year-old man is being held in the Walworth County Jail, and they have referred multiple charges to the district attorney's office, including first-degree intentional homicide.Welsh's loved ones have started a GoFundMe to help with funeral expenses.
Tributes are pouring in for star gymnast and University of Wisconsin-Whitewater student Kara Welsh.
The 21-year-old was shot and killed late Friday, Aug. 30, in an apartment near campus, according to police in Whitewater, Wisconsin.
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"She was a bulldog. Just right away, the hardest worker. Very respectful," said Nick Becker, Welsh's coach for nine years at Aspire Gymnastics Academy.
Becker said Welsh's dream was to thrive in college athletics, and she achieved it before she died. Welsh won the vault title at the WIAC Championship meet and qualified for nationals as an individual. She went on to win the national title in the event with a score of 9.825.
"She was making the right choices, and she was doing the right stuff. It's just hard to wrap my head around," Becker said.
According to Whitewater police, Welsh was shot and killed Friday night just before midnight in an apartment near Main and Whitewater streets. The apartment is less than a mile from campus.
WPD said officers arrested a 23-year-old man at the apartment. Welsh and the man had a fight before the shooting, according to police. Becker told Milwaukee sister station WISN that the apartment the pair were in belonged to the 23-year-old man.
"There are no words to describe the void we all feel in our hearts, but Kara's legacy will live on through Warhawk gymnastics forever," said UW-Whitewater gymnastics coach Jen Regan.
"She was going into her senior year," said Ryan Callahan, the athletic director at UW-Whitewater. "We brought the team in yesterday, and we told the team, and right away, you just knew there were so many people impacted by Kara's personality, her leadership."
Becker said Welsh was a beloved role model and mentor at Aspire Gymnastics and always knew how to keep her team's spirits high.
"They are each others' best friends. They are all like sisters," Becker said.
Whitewater police say the 23-year-old man is being held in the Walworth County Jail, and they have referred multiple charges to the district attorney's office, including first-degree intentional homicide.
Welsh's loved ones have started a GoFundMe to help with funeral expenses.
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