Chad T. Richards has been charged with first-degree intentional homicide, endangering safety by the use of a dangerous weapon and disorderly conduct while armed in the death of Kara Welsh, Whitewater, Wisconsin police said.
Richards appeared in court via video Tuesday afternoon at the Walworth County Courthouse.
Welsh's older sister tearfully addressed the judge during Richards' first court appearance.
Kaylee Welsh said her little sister was the light of her life and best friend.
"She was always smiling, always knew just what to say to make people laugh and was my overall favorite person on the planet," she said.
The 21-year-old college gymnast was shot multiple times and killed Friday night in her off-campus apartment, near the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater.
Richards was taken into custody after police said Welsh got into an altercation with the suspect in her apartment, before she was shot.
"He is himself a student at U of W-Whitewater, where he is studying communications. He is in his senior year," Richards' attorney Mackenzie Renner said.
While police say he and Welsh knew each other, the nature of their relationship is not known.
Richards was also a college athlete. He used to be a member of the UW-Whitewater wrestling team.
Because he does not have a criminal past, his lawyer tried to get his $1 million bond reduced.
The judge denied the request.
Welsh grew up in Plainfield. She was a standout college gymnast. The 21-year-old was a national champion and two-time All American gymnast, who was ready to start her senior year Tuesday.
She was majoring in management.
"I've heard many people talk about Kara's sports accolades, which do deserve to be celebrated, but she had so much more to give the world, aside from gymnastics. There was nothing Kara couldn't do. She was a friend to everyone, who would give you her shirt off her back," her sister said.
White ribbons went up Monday in Plainfield, as childhood friends and former gymnastics coaches all remember Welsh, as a funny, hard-working, smart person with a bright future ahead of her.
Counselors are available for students, as classes began at UW-Whitewater Tuesday.
Anyone with information relevant to the investigation is encouraged to contact the Whitewater Police Department at 262-473-0555, option No. 4. Anonymous tips may also be shared using P3Tips.com.