‘Blade Runner’ Olympian Arrested After Allegedly Shooting Girlfriend
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Richard Huggard/Gallo Images/Getty Images(PRETORIA, South Africa) — Oscar Pistorius, the Paralympic gold medalist known as the “Blade Runner,” was taken into custody in South Africa on Thursday and charged with the murder of his girlfriend, who was fatally shot at his home.
“I can confirm that there was a shooting incident this morning at the home of the well known Paralympic athlete Oscar Pistorius. At this stage, we can confirm that a young woman, a 30-year-old woman, did die at the scene of gunshot wounds,” Brig. Denise Beukes, a spokeswoman for the South African Police Service in Pretoria, said at a press conference Thursday.
Beukes said a 26-year-old man, who police have not named, has been arrested and will be charged with murder. Police in South Africa do not name suspects in crimes until they have appeared in court.
She said the man requested to be brought to court immediately.
The precise circumstances surrounding Thursday’s incident are unclear. Local reports say Pistorius, 26, may have mistaken his girlfriend for a burglar.
Beukes said police have investigated previous incidents at Pistorius’ home.
“Allegations of [a] domestic nature,” Beukes said.
Pistorius, a double below-the-knee amputee, won gold medals in the 4-by-100 meter relay and the 400-meter individual at the 2012 Paralympic Games in London.
He also competed in the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. In doing so, he became the first-ever double amputee to run in the Olympics.
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