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.”
Diver swam in Hawaii: dolphin asked him for help
In Hawaii, divers were swimming with manta rays when all of a sudden, one approached a dolphin. It approached one of the divers quite closely, as though it needed assistance. Divers understood what it wanted very soon.
Its fin was found to be stuck with a fishing line and hook, which undoubtedly caused it great discomfort and made it difficult for it to swim.
He took great care to remove the hook, but his task was not yet done. There is still tangle of fishing line around the fin.
The diver’s scissors came in handy, allowing him to release the dolphin. When the dolphin broke free, he bid it farewell.
The level of intelligence in these organisms is astounding. When a dolphin approached the diver in need of assistance, he gave it. Before it took off, it gave him a quick glance as though to say “thank you.”
Keller Laros, a stingray expert and certified diving instructor, supplied the photos. He utilizes his photos to investigate manta rays because he is an obsessive underwater photographer.
In addition, Laros is president and co-founder of the non-profit Manta Pacific study Foundation, which is committed to “research and protection of manta rays and the marine environment.”
Throughout his career, this significant work allowed Lars to release numerous law enforcement officers and sea turtles from fishing nets (which is why he carried scissors). However, this was the first occasion a dolphin approached the diver in need of assistance.
Luckily, someone recorded this heartfelt encounter, and it has been viewed millions of times since. On his website, Laros stated, “It was a really amazing experience.”
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