Kara Welsh, an All-American college gymnast, was fatally shot by her boyfriend, who has since been charged with the crime.

Kara Welsh, the girlfriend of former University of Wisconsin-Whitewater wrestling team member Chad Richards, was found dead in his Wisconsin apartment just before midnight Aug. 30, and he has been charged with her shooting death.

On Friday, Walworth County Court saw Richards, 23, make his first video appearance. He was accused of first-degree intentional homicide and is also facing charges of endangering safety by use of a dangerous weapon and disorderly conduct.

On August 30, at approximately midnight, Whitewater Police found the lifeless body of 21-year-old Kara Welsh in her apartment. An initial investigation revealed that an argument between the victim and Richards had occurred prior to the fatal gunshot wound.

But a criminal complaint released Friday revealed that Welsh was shot multiple times.

Richards claimed that he wrestled the gun away from Welsh and shot him because he feared for his life, according to the complaint.

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported that 11 spent casings were discovered in the apartment and a medical examiner determined that Welsh had eight gunshot wounds to the neck, torso, and other areas.

Richards, currently held on a $1 million bond, revealed to investigators that Welsh was his girlfriend.

UW-Whitewater's wrestling team had Richards as a member for two seasons from 2020 to 2022, while Welsh was a gymnastics team member at the same university.

"Coach Jen Regan stated that it is impossible to put into words the impact Kara had on the Warhawk community. Kara, a national champion and two-time All-American, was a powerful athlete, a dedicated teammate, and a light in everyone's dark days. She lifted each and every one of us up during her time as a Warhawk gymnast. Although there are no words to describe the void we all feel in our hearts, Kara's legacy will live on through Warhawk gymnastics forever."

Plainfield, Illinois-born Welsh is a management major in the College of Business and Economics at her school, and she won an individual national title on the vault at the NCAA Division III championships last year.

Richards is due to appear in court Oct. 26 for a preliminary hearing.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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