Man Claims He Shot College Gymnast Girlfriend Kara Welsh 8 Times In Self-Defense!

We have a head-scratching update in the tragic case of slain college gymnast Kara Welsh.

Earlier this month, the Whitewater Police Department revealed that the 21-year-old University of Wisconsin-Whitewater student was found dead in her off-campus apartment with “multiple gunshot wounds.” Also on the premises was a former wrestler at the same college, 23-year-old Chad Richards, who friends later claimed was Kara’s boyfriend. The PD reported at the time:

“Through investigation, it was determined that leading up to the shooting, an altercation had occurred between the two.”

In a complaint obtained by the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, it was revealed that Chad shot Kara not once, not twice — not even three times. But EIGHT times. Yes, you read that right. He was subsequently arrested and charged with first-degree intentional homicide, endangering safety by the use of a dangerous weapon, and disorderly conduct while armed. And you’ll never believe his angle of defense.

Chad appeared via video in Walworth County Court on Friday, and according to the complaint, he claimed self defense! For shooting the young woman EIGHT times! The assailant asserted he shot Kara after an argument turned physical and she grabbed the handgun from her bedroom nightstand. Chad claimed he was forced to wrestle the gun out of her hand and shoot her because he “feared for his life.” The complaint reads:

“The defendant stated that he shot (the victim) with the handgun because he feared for his life.”

Uhhh, you’re kidding, right?? That argument becomes even more perplexing when you learn that he apparently fired some of the shots at Kara while she was in the fetal position! We don’t know about you, but the fetal position isn’t much of a threatening position to us.

According to the complaint, the eight shots fatally struck Kara in her neck and torso, while eleven total bullet casings were found on the floor of the apartment — meaning that there were three extra shots possibly intended for Kara that didn’t land. And when cops arrived, they found Chad crying outside of the apartment while Kara was dead inside “lying on the floor in a pool of blood.”

As of now, he remains in custody at the Walworth County Jail. A judge set his bail at $1 million, and he’s set to appear in court again on October 28.

If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, help is available. Consider calling the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-799-7233, or text START to 88788, or go to https://www.thehotline.org/.

To learn more about the impact of gun violence, visit https://www.apha.org/topics-and-issues/gun-violence.

[Images via Aspire Gymnastics Academy/Facebook & Whitewater Police Department]