Crime
Murder-Suicide at UW-Platteville: Two Students Dead in Targeted, Isolated Campus Incident
PLATTEVILLE, Wis. — Two University of Wisconsin–Platteville students have died following a tragic incident on campus Monday, university officials confirmed.
In an email to the campus community, Chancellor Dr. Tammy Evetovich identified the students as 22-year-old Kelsie Martin of Beloit, Wisconsin, and 22-year-old Hallie Helms of Baraboo, Wisconsin.
“It is with deep sadness that we mourn the loss of two UW-Platteville students, Kelsie Martin and Hallie Helms.
This incident was a targeted and isolated event between the two individuals. Families of the students have been notified,” Chancellor Evetovich stated.
The incident occurred inside Wilgus Hall, a campus residence facility.
UW-Platteville and local law enforcement have not yet released further details about the nature of the incident, but authorities have confirmed that it remains an active and ongoing investigation.
Officials have emphasized that there is no continuing threat to the campus community.
According to a post on Wilgus Hall’s official Facebook page, Kelsie Martin had graduated just two days prior and served as a resident director in 2024.
In response to the tragedy, the university has made mental health resources available for students and staff. UW-Platteville’s Counseling Services will offer triage counseling sessions Tuesday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Additionally, a toll-free emotional support line is available at 844-602-6680 or 720-272-0004, staffed by licensed mental health professionals. The hotline will remain open overnight and will adjust its hours based on campus needs.
The university community continues to grieve as it seeks answers surrounding this devastating loss.
AUSTIN, Texas — A man was taken into custody Saturday afternoon following a shooting inside the Austin Central Library that left one person seriously injured and prompted a large emergency response and temporary shelter-in-place order in the downtown area.
According to the Austin Police Department (APD), officers responded shortly after 12:00 p.m. to reports of gunfire inside the Austin Central Library, located at 710 W. César Chávez Street.
Upon arrival, police and Austin-Travis County EMS units found one victim suffering from a gunshot wound.
The individual was transported to a local hospital in serious but stable condition.
Assistant Police Chief Lee Rogers stated during a press briefing that the shooter fled the scene before officers arrived.
After an extensive search, the suspect—identified as 55-year-old Harold Newton Keene—was located and arrested in South Austin at approximately 1:25 p.m.
The library was safely evacuated, and the shelter-in-place alert was lifted shortly after Keene’s apprehension.
Authorities emphasized that the shooting appeared to be an isolated incident involving only one suspect and one victim.
“This was not an active shooter situation,” Rogers confirmed.
Preliminary reports and public records reveal that Harold Newton Keene has a lengthy criminal history, including multiple arrests for assault, family violence, terroristic threats, burglary, drug possession, and evading arrest.
He is described by law enforcement officials as a habitual violent offender who has had numerous prior run-ins with police.
Records indicate Keene was previously arrested for threatening a man with a firearm several months ago and, in a separate incident, assaulted another inmate while in custody at the Travis County Jail.
In both cases, prosecutors later declined to pursue charges.
Authorities have not yet released a possible motive for the shooting or confirmed whether the suspect and victim knew each other.
The Austin Police Department’s Major Crimes Division is leading the investigation.
Anyone with information related to the incident is urged to contact the Austin Police Department or Crime Stoppers at 512-472-TIPS.