Two University of Wisconsin-Platteville students died in what officials said Monday was a “targeted and isolated” shooting on campus.
The two 22-year-old students, Kelsie Martin and Hallie Helms, were the only people involved in the incident at an on-campus residence hall, the university said.
Martin, a psychology major and assistant resident director at Wilgus Hall, was airlifted to a University of Wisconsin hospital after she was found with a gunshot wound, according to the statement.
She was later pronounced dead, the school said.
A preliminary autopsy found that Helms, who lived at Wilgus Hall and was an elementary education major, died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, the school said in a statement Tuesday night.
Helms was pronounced dead at the scene, according to the statement.
The statement did not provide additional details about the nature of the shooting and asked for people with information to share it with the school’s police department.
Earlier, UW-Platteville Police Chief Joe Hallman said that authorities quickly determined there was no ongoing threat after receiving a 911 call about an incident at Wilgus Hall shortly before 4 p.m. A shelter-in-place order was lifted just after 5 p.m.
Sophomore Eric Sperduto, who lives in Wilgus Hall, told NBC affiliate WMTV of Madison that he saw two girls running from the building after 4 p.m. Monday. He also saw law enforcement in the building.
“It’s just really sad and just sad to think about the families that are affected by this and people that were their friends and stuff that, I guess, that are students just like me that are changed now,” Sperduto told the station.
In a statement, Chancellor Tammy Evetovich mourned the loss of Martin, of Beloit, Wisconsin, and Helms, of Baraboo, Wisconsin, and said the well-being of their community was top of mind.
“Please take the time to take care of yourself and others,” she said.
The university, which has a student body of more than 6,000, canceled final exams and is offering counseling services this week for members of the community, according to the statement.
If you or someone you know is in crisis, call or text 988, or go to 988lifeline.org, to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. You can also call the network, previously known as the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, at 800-273-8255, or visit SpeakingOfSuicide.com/resources.
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