WI - Murder-Suicide at UW-Platteville Drom Room - Kelsie Martin, 22, of Beloit, & Hallie Helms, 22, of Baraboo - 19 May 2025

[Knox]

It happened around 4 p.m. at Wilgus Hall, a student residence where Kelsie Martin was an assistant resident director. Medics took Martin to the hospital with gunshot wounds, where she later died. The Beloit native recently graduated from UW-Platteville with a psychology degree, according to the school.

A preliminary autopsy found Hallie Helms died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Helms, a Baraboo native, also lived at Wilgus Hall and had just received her degree in elementary education. The investigation is ongoing, but police believe it was a targeted and isolated event between the two individuals.

2 women die in dorm room shooting at UW-Platteville

Kelsie Martin and Hallie Helms died Monday at Wilgus Hall.

www.wisn.com

 

[Knox]

What we know about Kelsie Martin and Hallie Helms, the UW-Platteville students who died

Kelsie Martin and Hallie L. Helms both had just graduated and lived in Wilgus Hall, the site on the UW-Platteville campus of an emergency incident May 19 that left both dead.

www.jsonline.com

 

[tlorik]

The article gives background on both girls but not much info on what could have caused this tragedy. Both had graduated two days ago. Were they in a relationship that was under stress due to graduation?

 

[Ruby_PA]

My guess is that it could have been unrequited attraction/love and with graduation recently, one knew the other was not going to be around any longer. Leaving school and not being nearby anymore. Maybe one recently broke up with the other knowing they were off to start their lives and college was over.... Many possibilities, but we don't often see women using guns this way.
Very sad.
MOO.

 

[borndem]

My guess is that it could have been unrequited attraction/love and with graduation recently, one knew the other was not going to be around any longer. Leaving school and not being nearby anymore. Maybe one recently broke up with the other knowing they were off to start their lives and college was over.... Many possibilities, but we don't often see women using guns this way.
Very sad.
MOO.

bbm I was thinking the same thing.
Also, the gun part of it is a bit unusual somehow. What a sad, sad thing.
Two families having to get through this tragedy...

 

[borndem]

...

 

[Sundog]

Two students dead in suspected murder-suicide at University of Wisconsin-Platteville - WFIN Local News

Two students, Kelsie Martin and Hallie Helms, died in a suspected murder-suicide at University of Wisconsin-Platteville's Wilgus Hall following graduation.

wfin.com

Suspected murder-suicide with Hallie Helms, the perpetrator, committing suicide after shooting Kelsie Martin, the victim.

Investigation ongoing, where did she get the gun, etc.

 

[Knox]

The article gives background on both girls but not much info on what could have caused this tragedy. Both had graduated two days ago. Were they in a relationship that was under stress due to graduation?

Kelsie had a son and boyfriend. So I’m not sure they were in a relationship? Such a tragedy.

 

[Ruby_PA]

Kelsie had a son and boyfriend. So I’m not sure they were in a relationship? Such a tragedy.

Wow, how very sad. I did not know that. I was guessing at motivations, I have no idea why it happened.

 

[Sundog]

Kelsie had a son and boyfriend. So I’m not sure they were in a relationship? Such a tragedy.

I hope her son and boyfriend get some answers as to why she was shot to death. And where the shooter got the gun and had a gun in a residence hall on a university campus.

 

[Sundog]

Preliminary autopsy suggests UW-Platteville incident was murder-suicide

PLATEVILLE, Wis. -- A preliminary autopsy at UW-Platteville suggested the shooting was a murder-suicide following the death of two students Monday afternoon at Wilgus Hall.

www.channel3000.com

UW-Platteville police verify Monday's student deaths were murder-suicide

PLATTEVILLE — Former Beloit Turner High School student Kelsie Martin was shot as part of a murder-suicide, University of Wisconsin-Platteville police verified on Tuesday.

www.beloitdailynews.com

This makes me really angry. Since the shooter is dead, killed herself, how will there be justice for Kelsie Martin and her family?

As we get more facts, maybe there will be the possibility of a civil lawsuit against the shooter's family, if warranted, and against the university, if warranted.

 

[Cakegremlin35]

Kelsie Martin, 22, of Beloit, and Hallie L. Helms, 22, of Baraboo, both lived in Wilgus Hall, the site of shooting on May 19 that left both students dead, the university said.

Martin had been the assistant resident director at Wilgus Hall since 2023, according to her LinkedIn profile. That meant she was the lead supervisor of the dorm, overseeing eight to 12 resident assistants, she wrote on LinkedIn.

She attended weekly meetings, held office hours and “responded to various emergencies around the hall,” including mental health concerns, hate and bias reports, violations of campus policy and more, according to her profile.

What we know about Kelsie Martin and Hallie Helms, the UW-Platteville students who died

Kelsie Martin and Hallie L. Helms both had just graduated and lived in Wilgus Hall, the site on the UW-Platteville campus of an emergency incident May 19 that left both dead.

eu.jsonline.com

So could Kelsie have dealt with a complaint against Helms ? Maybe resentment built up.

 

[Knox]

Kelsie Martin, 22, of Beloit, and Hallie L. Helms, 22, of Baraboo, both lived in Wilgus Hall, the site of shooting on May 19 that left both students dead, the university said.

Martin had been the assistant resident director at Wilgus Hall since 2023, according to her LinkedIn profile. That meant she was the lead supervisor of the dorm, overseeing eight to 12 resident assistants, she wrote on LinkedIn.

She attended weekly meetings, held office hours and “responded to various emergencies around the hall,” including mental health concerns, hate and bias reports, violations of campus policy and more, according to her profile.

What we know about Kelsie Martin and Hallie Helms, the UW-Platteville students who died

Kelsie Martin and Hallie L. Helms both had just graduated and lived in Wilgus Hall, the site on the UW-Platteville campus of an emergency incident May 19 that left both dead.

eu.jsonline.com

So could Kelsie have dealt with a complaint against Helms ? Maybe resentment built up.

I assume because it’s being preliminarily being called M/S that there will be an announcement as to motive, if one can be determined?

 

[realanastasia]

Obit for the victim (mentions her male partner, but there’s no mention of a child): https://www.daleymurphywisch.com/obituaries/kelsie-martin/#!/TributeWall

Obit for the accused murderer: Redlin Funeral Home

 

[LadyL]

Kelsie had a son and boyfriend. So I’m not sure they were in a relationship? Such a tragedy.

where did you see info about a son?

 

[airportwoman]

Kelsie had a son and boyfriend. So I’m not sure they were in a relationship? Such a tragedy.

Here's Kelsie's obituary. It doesn't mention any children; maybe the son was her boyfriend's?

https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/wrex/name/kelsie-martin-obituary?id=58449533

 

[Knox]

Kelsie had a son and boyfriend. So I’m not sure they were in a relationship? Such a tragedy.

Quoting myself to correct an error. Kelsie does NOT have a son, apologies everyone for the misinformation.

 

[Knox]

Obit for the victim (mentions her male partner, but there’s no mention of a child): https://www.daleymurphywisch.com/obituaries/kelsie-martin/#!/TributeWall

Obit for the accused murderer: Redlin Funeral Home

Thank you for pointing this out.