The UW-Platteville campus fell silent this week as students processed the unthinkable—two classmates gone in a moment of violence. Kelsie Martin, weeks away from starting her social work master’s program, and Hallie Helms, a newly graduated future teacher, died together in a dormitory tragedy that has left the Wisconsin community heartbroken.
BREAKING: Overnight the @uwplatteville Chancellor released new information on the two students killed on campus in an "isolated incident." @tmj4 @AndreaAlbersTV pic.twitter.com/3cfXLYkxN4
— Tom Durian (@TMJ4Tom) May 20, 2025
Police confirmed the shooting was isolated, with Helms responsible for both deaths before taking her own life. The university canceled classes, recognizing students needed space to grieve. At makeshift memorials, friends left flowers and notes for Martin, remembering her tireless kindness, and for Helms, whose artistic talents and quirky humor touched many.
Behind the grief linger difficult questions. Reports suggest Helms was experiencing a mental health crisis when Martin, as resident advisor, intervened—a tragic twist that has some parents calling for better crisis response protocols. As Martin’s GoFundMe nears $15,000 and Helms’ family prepares her funeral, the campus is left grappling with how to move forward after losing two such vibrant young women.
