Man charged with shooting and killing UW-Whitewater gymnast Kara Welsh
CHICAGO (CBS) -- A Rockford area man has been charged with shooting and killing a University of Wisconsin-Whitewater gymnast from Plainfield last week, during a fight at an off-campus apartment.
Chad T. Richards, 23, of Loves Park, Illinois, just north of Rockford, is charged with first-degree intentional homicide, endangering safety by the use of a dangerous weapon, and disorderly conduct while armed, according to Whitewater police.
He is accused of shooting and killing 21-year-old Kara Welsh at an off-campus apartment on Friday night near the university.
Richards was ordered held on $1 million bond during his first court appearance on Tuesday in Walworth County, Wisconsin, as the judge in his case ruled him to be a flight risk and a danger to the public.
His defense attorney said Richards is a senior at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, studying communications, but if he is able to post bond and is released from custody, the terms of his bond bar him from campus, though he can attend classes remotely. He is due back in court on Friday.
At Richards' first court hearing, Kara's older sister, Kaeli, said she was the strongest person she knew, and encouraged her to pursue her dream of becoming a veterinarian.
"My little sister, Kara, was my life. She was always smiling, always knew just what to say to make people laugh, and was my overall favorite person on the planet," Kaeli Welsh said.
Kara was set to begin her senior year at UW-Whitewater on Tuesday.
The school has ordered flags flown at half-staff in her memory and will offer grief counseling to coaches and members of her gymnastics team.
Kara was a standout on the vault, and according to those who knew her, so much more.
"I have heard many people talk about Kara's sports accolades, which do deserve to be celebrated, but she had so much more to give to the world besides gymnastics. There was nothing that Kara couldn't do. She was a friend to everyone, and would give you the shirt off her back to anyone that asked. She was smart, determined, and full of life," Kaeli said.
Friends and neighbors spent their Labor Day coming together to pay tribute to Kara on Monday.
Sarah Torello and Nicole Conrad said they've known Welsh since they were in preschool in Plainfield, and said even at a young age, Welsh was doing flips and even teaching them how to do a backflip on a trampoline.
Torello now relies on her fond memories of how Kara was the light in every room.
"She was the good in every memory that we all have growing up. So we're just trying to remember her through the good parts," Torello said.
Kaeli said losing her sister was the worst fear of her life, and now that it's reality, she plans to continue telling her story to everyone.
"Kara was the light of my life, and I have truly no idea what I'm going to do without her. There is nothing that I wouldn't do for her, so I will be here to make sure that Kara is being fought for just as hard as she fought for me," she said.