Boyfriend charged in the shooting death of All-American college gymnast Kara Welsh

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

Richards, 23, made his initial appearance via video in Walworth County Court Friday. He was charged with first-degree intentional homicide and is facing additional charges of endangering safety by use of a dangerous weapon and disorderly conduct. 

The Whitewater Police Department identified the suspect who allegedly killed Kara Welsh as Chad T. Richards, 23, of Loves Park, Ill. (Whitewater Police Department)

Whitewater Police arrived at Richards' apartment Aug. 30 just before midnight and discovered the body of 21-year-old Kara Welsh. Police initially reported that the victim had a gunshot wound and that an altercation between the two took place before the fatal shooting.

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

Richards placed the 911 call and later told investigators the two were arguing when he said Welsh grabbed his gun from a nightstand. Richards said he wrestled the gun away and shot Welsh because he "feared for his life," the complaint continued.

According to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 11 spent casings were found inside the apartment, and a medical examiner found that Welsh had eight gunshot wounds to the neck, torso and other areas. 

This photo provided by the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater shows UW-Whitewater student Kara Welsh, who was killed Aug. 30, 2024, in an apartment near the