Suburban Chicago college student killed in off-campus shooting near University of Wisconsin-Whitewater

Plainfield college gymnast shot and killed near UW-Whitewater campus

CHICAGO (CBS) -- A southwest suburban student is dead after a shooting at an off-campus apartment near the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. 

Kara Welsh, 21, of Plainfield, died Friday night. 

Police say she was shot during a fight with a man she knew. 

Welsh was set to begin her senior year at UW Whitewater on Tuesday. 

The school ordered flags flown at half-staff in her memory and will offer grief counseling to coaches and members of her gymnastics team. 

Welsh was a standout on the vault and, according to those who knew her, so much more. 

"She's a phenomenal human being," said Ryan Callahan, assistant chancellor and director of athletics for UW Whitewater. "She was a great gymnast, 2023 national champion in the vault, a management major in our truly competitive school of business at UW Whitewater, a team leader, a community leader. Everybody who knew her and was around her is better for that." 

A 23-year-old man accused of shooting Welsh is in custody on multiple charges. Police have not yet named him. 

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