Suspect Claims He Shot UW Gymnast Girlfriend in Self-Defense

The man accused of killing UW-Whitewater student athlete Kara Welsh was formally charged Friday.

Chad T. Richards, 23, faces one count of first-degree intentional homicide by use of a dangerous weapon.

Kara Welsh and Chad Richards

According to a criminal complaint, Richards called the police on August 30 and said that a woman was dying. When police arrived, they saw him “crying hysterically” on his phone in the hallway of the apartment building.

After escorting Richards out of the building, the officers made their way inside, where they found Welsh with several gunshot wounds to her neck, shoulder, wrist, and leg.

Richards later told police that he was Welsh’s boyfriend and that he and Welsh got into a fight that night. He told police he couldn’t remember what the fight was about.

In the complaint, Richards told police he punched a door out of frustration, leading Welsh to grab Richards’ gun from his nightstand. Richards told police he wrestled the gun away, and shot Welsh “because he feared for his life.”

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