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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.


  Hallie Helms was an elementary education major. Facebook/Hallie Helms Hallie Helms was an elementary education major. Facebook/Hallie Helms

  Kelsie Martin was assistant resident director. UW Wisconsin-Platteville Kelsie Martin was assistant resident director. UW Wisconsin-Platteville

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.


  Cops were called to a suspected murder-suicide on Monday afternoon. Milwaukee Journal Sentinel-Imagn Images Cops were called to a suspected murder-suicide on Monday afternoon. Milwaukee Journal Sentinel-Imagn Images

“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.


  The cause of the shooting is still under investigation. Milwaukee Journal Sentinel-Imagn Images The cause of the shooting is still under investigation. Milwaukee Journal Sentinel-Imagn Images

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.

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