Two female college students have been found dead in their Wisconsin dorm room in a suspected murder-suicide, university authorities have said.
Kelsie Martin and Hallie Helms, both 22, were found with gunshot wounds on the University of Wisconsin-Platteville campus on Monday.
Helms, an elementary education major, was pronounced dead at the scene, while Martin, a psychology major and assistant resident director, died from her injuries after being airlifted to a University of Wisconsin hospital, a statement from the university said on Tuesday night.
Helms died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, a preliminary autopsy found.
Cops received a 911 call about an incident at Wilgus Hall, an on-campus dormitory, shortly before 4 p.m. Monday, UW-Platteville Police Chief Joe Hallman said Tuesday.
A shelter-in-place order in the dormitory was lifted just after 5 p.m., he added.
Students were seen running from the dormitory on Monday afternoon, Eric Sperduto, who lives in Wilgus Hall, told WMTV.
A heavy law enforcement presence was also seen on campus.
“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,” he said.
The loss of Martin, of Beloit, Wisconsin, and Helms, of Baraboo, Wisconsin, was mourned in a statement by UW-Platteville Chancellor Tammy Evetovich.
“Please take the time to take care of yourself and others,” she said.
Final exams have been canceled at the university, and counseling services are being offered this week for members of the community, the statement said.
The University of Wisconsin-Platteville and the university’s police department did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
