Two students dead after incident at University of Wisconsin-Platteville

On Monday afternoon, a terrifying incident occurred at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville, located in the southwestern corner of Wisconsin, near the borders of Iowa and Illinois. Reports began around 3:45 p.m. local time, suggesting a possible shooting at Wilgus Hall, a residence hall on campus. The UW-Platteville Police Department immediately issued a shelter-in-place order and alerted students, faculty, and staff to avoid the area. Witnesses reported hearing gunshots, prompting emergency responders to quickly arrive on the scene. Authorities conducted a room-to-room sweep to ensure the safety of campus residents. After a thorough investigation, it was confirmed that the incident did not represent an active threat to the campus community, leading to the lifting of the shelter-in-place order around 5:03 p.m. However, the shock continued as university officials announced the unfortunate death of two students, Kelsie Martin, 22, from Beloit, Wisconsin, and Hallie Helms, 22, from Baraboo, Wisconsin. The chancellor’s office stated that this incident was targeted and isolated, occurring between the two individuals involved. Their families have been notified. The local police chief confirmed that emergency personnel responded immediately to a 911 call received shortly before 4 p.m., indicating a situation at Wilgus Hall. At least one person was also transported to the hospital, although details about their condition were not made public. Investigations are ongoing, with authorities remaining tight-lipped about the possibility of weapons being involved in the students’ deaths. It is crucial to note that while residents are not permitted to keep weapons in their dormitories, provisions are made for students participating in activities such as shooting clubs. In the wake of this tragic event, final exams were canceled for the remainder of the week, and the university has initiated triage counseling for students through Friday. An emotional support helpline has also been established for those in need. The safety and well-being of students were reiterated as the foremost concern of university officials, demonstrating their commitment to supporting the affected community. These tragic events have left the campus shaken and will undoubtedly leave lasting impacts on the University of Wisconsin-Platteville community. The investigation aims to uncover the factors leading to this isolated incident and to prevent future occurrences of such violence on campus.