Oscar Pistorius shoots dead girlfriend

Olympic double-amputee athlete Oscar Pistorius was taken into custody and was expected to appear in court Thursday after a woman who was believed to be his girlfriend was shot dead at his home in South Africa's capital, Pretoria.

Police Lt. Col. Katlego Mogale said when police arrived they found paramedics trying to revive the woman, who had been shot an unspecified number of times. Mogale, who was speaking from the scene, said the woman died at the house.

Local radio and online newspaper reports said the woman was understood to be Pistorius' girlfriend, but police did not clarify the woman's relationship status to Pristorius. Britain's Sky News reported that the woman had been shot in the head and arm. She may have been mistaken for a burglar.

"We can confirm a 26-year-old man has been taken into custody following a complaint by a neighbor that there was a shooting at the home of Oscar Pistorius," a police spokesman told NBC News. "He is being charged with murder and he will appear in the Pretoria regional court later this afternoon."

Police have not released the name of the woman, but the publicist for Reeva Steenkamp, Pistorius' girlfriend, told Sky News that Steenkamp had died. Tributes to Steenkamp, a model, poured onto social media sites.

Officers found a 9-mm pistol at the scene and took the 26-year-old Pistorius into custody. He is expected to appear in court later Thursday.

Pistorius, who races wearing carbon fiber prosthetic blades after he was born without a fibula in both legs, was the first double-amputee to run in the Olympics and reached the 400 semifinals in London 2012.

South Africa's Sports Confederation and Olympic committee released a statement saying they had been "inundated" with requests for comment, but were not in a position to give out any details of the shooting.

"SASCOC, like the rest of the public, knows no more than what is in the public domain, which is there has been an alleged fatal shooting on the basis of a mistaken identity and an apparent assumption of a burglary," the South African Olympic committee said. "The organization is in no position to comment on the incident other than to say our deepest sympathy and condolences have been expressed to the families of all concerned."

SACOC said it would be inappropriate to comment because of the ongoing police investigation.

South Africa has some of the world's highest rates of violent crime and some home owners carry weapons to defend themselves against intruders. U.N. statistics show South Africa has the second highest rate of shooting deaths in the world, second only to Colombia.

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This is just such a sad story. If what is being reported is true that his girlfriend (who didn't live with him) startled him around 4am or 5am in the morning then I can see him believing it to be an intruder and shooting. It's a sad turn of events either way and such a tragic loss. More will come out about every minute detail. Sad news.

Double amputee shoots girlfriend lmao. I shouln't laugh but the first line was funny. All I pictured was a guy using his mouth to fire off a gun :\

The dude is in a whole heap of trouble. I'll be amazed if he gets away from this. I know Athletes seem to avoid prison more often than a civilian doing the same crime but I think Oscar is gonna be done on this.

Biggest problem with this guy is he's doing it all in South africa. he'spretty much euchered beause as it's been said numerous times...SOuth Africa has been known to make examples out of celebrities and athletes. So ya, hes fucked.