'Isolated incident' leaves 2 students dead at UW-Platteville

WISCONSIN (CBS 58) -- Two students at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville have died in what officials are calling a targeted and isolated incident.

UW-Platteville Chancellor Tammy Evetovich confirmed the deaths of 22-year-old Kelsie Martin and 22-year-old Hallie Helms in a campuswide email Monday night, May 19.

According to an update from the university provided Tuesday, UW-Platteville Police Department officers responded to a reported disturbance at Wilgus Hall Monday afternoon and found the two students with gunshot wounds. 

Martin was taken to Southwest Health and then flown to UW Hospital where she was pronounced deceased. The university says she was the Wilgus Hall assistant resident director and a psychology major from Beloit.

Officials say Helms died at the scene, and preliminary findings indicate her gunshot wound was self-inflicted. Helms was a Wilgus Hall resident and an elementary education major from Baraboo.

An investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to contact the UW-Platteville Police Department at 608-342-1584.

The campus remains open, and counseling services are available for students.

WISCONSIN (CBS 58) -- The University of Wisconsin-Platteville confirmed there is no active threat to the campus or community after an "isolated incident" on campus Monday, May 19. 

According to the UW-Platteville Police Department's chief of police, they are "not at liberty to go into details" regarding what happened, citing an active investigation, but he confirmed that "there was a transport."

He said a 911 call was received just before 4 p.m. indicating a situation in Wilgus Hall, a residence hall on campus. Emergency personnel responded immediately, and an alert went out to students to shelter in place. 

Just after 5 p.m., the incident was confirmed to be isolated, and the shelter in place order was lifted. 

All final exams and scheduled assessments have been canceled through the end of the week. 

The campus will remain open, and counseling services will be made available for students affected by this incident. 

The university has set up a toll-free informational and emotional support line at 844-602-6680 or 720-727-0004, staffed by mental health professionals. They say the line will be available overnight Monday into Tuesday.

This is a developing story. Stick with CBS for updates on-air and online.

Posted: 4:44 p.m. on May 19, 2025

WISCONSIN (CBS 58) -- The University of Wisconsin-Platteville has issued an alert asking anyone on campus to shelter in place. 

A message on their website is asking anyone off campus to avoid the area. 

According to a university spokesperson, there was an "incident" in one of their residence halls.