A man has been arrested in connection with the shooting death of a nationally ranked University of Wisconsin-Whitewater gymnast near campus, police said.

Whitewater police said the suspect, identified only as a 23-year-old man who knew the victim, shot and killed 21-year-old Kara Welsh late Friday after an altercation in an apartment on campus.

University Chancellor Corey King announced Welsh’s death in a message to students, faculty and staff on Saturday.

“We know the news of Kara’s passing is heartbreaking for our close-knit university community,” King said. “It is a time when we are all called to support one another, process the death and grieve.”

The suspect was taken to the Walworth County Jail and arrested on suspicion of first-degree intentional murder, endangering safety and disorderly conduct while armed, police said in a statement. Because his name was not released, it was unclear if he was still in jail or if he had retained legal representation.

Whitewater police did not respond to a request for further information Sunday evening.

In an earlier statement, the police department said a 23-year-old man was present when officers responded to a report of a gunshot victim on Friday. A woman, later identified as Welsh, had been shot multiple times and was dead when officers arrived, police said.

“The investigation revealed that there had been an argument between the two prior to the shooting,” police said.

The murder occurred in the 100 block of Whitewater Street, about a mile east of the school’s main campus, in an apartment listed on the university’s website as off-campus housing.

Welsh studied business administration and was from Plainfield, Illinois. According to the school, he won the national individual vault title with his gymnastics team last year.

She is a vaulting “phenomenon” and holds four of the eight highest vault scores in team history, the university’s athletic department said in a statement on Sunday.

“It is impossible to put into words the impact Kara has had on the Warhawk community,” coach Jen Regan said in the statement. “A strong athlete, dedicated teammate, and the light in everyone’s dark days, Kara truly lifted each and every one of us up during her time as a Warhawk gymnast.”

USA Gymnastics, the governing body for the sport in the United States, said on X: “We extend our deepest condolences to Kara’s family, friends and teammates at @UWWGymnastics.”

King said the memorial services will be announced as details become available. When students, faculty and staff return on Tuesday, flags on campus will fly at half-staff and counseling will be available for those who need it, he said.

A relative of Walsh did not immediately respond to a request for comment Sunday evening.

Whitewater is located about 50 miles west-southwest of Milwaukee.