Latest news with #Platteville
Fox News
22-05-2025
- Fox News
Two students dead in suspected murder-suicide at University of Wisconsin-Platteville
This story discusses suicide. If you or someone you know is having thoughts of suicide, please contact the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988 or 1-800-273-TALK (8255). Two female students have died in a suspected murder-suicide at a residence hall at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville. A spokesperson with the university confirmed with Fox News Digital that Kelsie Martin and Hallie Helms, both 22, were found with gunshot wounds at Wilgus Hall, a student residence hall, in what authorities believe to be a murder-suicide at approximately 4 p.m. local time on Monday, May 19. Helms, an elementary education major, was pronounced dead at the scene. Martin, a psychology major and assistant resident director, was transported to Southwest Health, and then flown to UW Hospital, where she later died. A preliminary autopsy found that Martin was determined to have died by gunshot wound, and Helms died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, the school said, noting that "all indications at this time from the preliminary autopsy suggest a murder-suicide." The university's police arrived at the scene following a call for a "disturbance." Photos following the incident captured college students being escorted out of the residence halls as police investigated the incident. The school said that "no other subjects are suspected to have been involved in the incident." The university canceled final exams for the remainder of the week. Counseling is being offered to the campus community, and a toll-free emotional support line is available at (844)602-6680 or (720)272-0004. Helms graduated magna cum laude with a degree in elementary education, and Martin graduated summa cum laude with a degree in psychology on Saturday, May 17, according to the university's graduation program. Helms was from Baraboo, Wisconsin, and transferred to UW-Plateville in the spring of 2023 after attending UW-Baraboo. Martin was from Beloit, Wisconsin, and had served as an assistant resident director on campus for the past three years, according to a "Student Staff Spotlight" posted by the university residence life office on Facebook. The university said in a Facebook message on Tuesday, "Thank you to all who have reached out to us through messages and offered to support in so many meaningful ways. We are overwhelmed by your kindness." "We are a close community, and this outpouring of care is a powerful reminder of who we are. We do not take it for granted. #PioneerStrong," they added. Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers wrote on Facebook, "I've been briefed on the situation at UW-Platteville, and we will continue to remain in close contact with university officials. As we await more information, please keep UW-Platteville students, faculty, staff, and the greater Platteville community in your thoughts." The UW-Platteville Police Department declined to comment on the incident, referring Fox News Digital to the university's statement.
Daily Mail
20-05-2025
- Daily Mail
Mystery as two young female students killed at University of Wisconsin dorm
Two young women were killed at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville in an 'isolated incident' just days after graduation. Kelsie Martin, 22, and Hallie Helms, 22, died Monday at Wilgus Hall, a dormitory on campus. Police have shared few details on the incident, but sources told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel a shooting allegedly occurred around 4 p.m. Staff and students at the public university - where roughly 6,500 people study - were put on lockdown after police reported an 'emergency situation.' The order was lifted just after 5 p.m. when police determined it was not an active, ongoing threat, reported WMTV. 'I have to point out that this is an ongoing, active law enforcement investigation, and I really don't have a lot of specific details at this time as it's still very fluid,' said UW-Platteville Police Chief Joe Hallman. University Chancellor Dr. Tammy Evetovich released the victims' identities around 11 p.m., revealing they died in a 'targeted and isolated event,' according to WPR. 'It is with deep sadness that we mourn the loss of two UW-Platteville students, Kelsie Martin, 22, of Beloit, Wisconsin, and Hallie Helms, 22, of Baraboo, Wisconsin,' Evetovich said. 'This incident was a targeted and isolated event between the two individuals. Families of the students have been notified.' A commencement program showed both women graduated on Saturday, Helms with a degree in elementary education and Martin with a degree in psychology. According to a post from the University of Wisconsin-Platteville: Residence Life, Martin was the assistant resident director at Wilgus Hall. She had worked for campus residence life for three years and said she applied for the role because 'I wanted to help people the same way my RA helped me through my first year on campus.' Martin listed a fun fact about herself: 'I own over 400 books and want to have my own in-home library one day.' The university canceled the remaining final exams and had counseling services available to students. 'We've canceled these final exams, and this extends to the Platteville and Baraboo campus because we are a close-knit community,' said Provost Laura Reynolds. 'Both the faculty and staff, as well as the students, need time to be together. They need time to work through this together. 'We are deeply saddened, and know this event has negative impact on our Pioneers, and we know students will want to be able to focus on their own well-being and spend time with friends and families.' Students told the local news station they were shocked to learn about the tragedy and frustrated with the lack of information from officials. 'I was kind of terrified for a second, honestly,' said Kirra Kamp, a sophomore. 'It's kind of something you hear happens but nothing that you actually think is gonna happen to you in your school until it happens. It's insane to see stuff like this happen.' 'It's kind of scary, honestly, because it's like obviously there are a lot of rumors going around,' said junior Andrew Roubinek. 'There are a lot of open-ended questions with a lot of things, and I came here to hopefully get some actual, don't want to say closure, but some actual news about it, which ended up being quite uneventful tonight.'
Daily Mail
19-05-2025
- Daily Mail
BREAKING NEWS University of Wisconsin-Platteville on lockdown as cops respond to 'active incident'
Students at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville have been put on lockdown following reports of an active 'incident' on campus. Platteville Police Department confirmed they were called to the scene around 3.45pm. Staff and students at the public university - where roughly 6,500 people study - were told to avoid Wilgus Hall and shelter in place.
