JOHANNESBURG — South Africa's famous Olympic sprinter, Oscar Pistorius, has been arrested and charged with murder following a deadly shooting at his residence in Pretoria. Police say Pistorius, known as the "Blade Runner'' for his racing prosthetics, is cooperating with the investigation.
Pistorious was taken into custody early Thursday for allegedly shooting and killing his girlfriend at his home.
South African Police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Katlego Mogale confirmed the shooting and said a murder case has been opened.
"In the early hours of this morning, police were called to an incident of shooting at Oscar Pistorius house. When they arrived they found a 30-year-old woman being attended to by paramedics, who then declared her dead on the scene," said Mogale. "Further investigation in the house resolved a 9-milimeter firearm and a 26-year-old man has been taken into custody and will be appearing in the Pretoria Magistrate's Court this afternoon."
The 26-year-old Pistorius was photographed outside the police station Thursday morning.
Police confirm the suspect is undergoing a physical examination for evidence as part of the investigation. They also confirm reports that neighbors heard yelling and shouting at his home at the time of the shooting.Pistorius was the first double-amputee to compete in the 400-meter race in last year’s London Olympics. He is nicknamed the 'blade runner' because he runs with metal blade prosthetics.
The victim is believed to be Pretorius’ girlfriend, 30-year-old Reeva Steenkamp, a model. In a statement, Steenkamp's public relations agency, Capacity Relations, said she has died.
A Facebook page set up in Steenkamp's memory had nearly 3,000 likes as of 1:00 pm South Africa time Thursday.
Initial media reports suggested that Pistorius mistakenly thought Steenkamp was a burglar, shooting her two to four times. Police have not confirmed this.
The news that one of the country's most well-known athletes had been involved in a shooting is leaving many South Africans in dismay, including Lizelle Van Huyssteen of Johannesburg.
"I was just so shocked and dismayed and my first feeling was that it was very tragic and I feel sorry for the guy, if that's what happened," said Van Huyssteen.
South Africa is known for very high crime rates. Johannesburg resident Andre Bruton says that is something that plays into everyone’s life here.
"I think it can happen to anybody. In South Africa with a lot of burglaries happening, that's the first thing that will go through your mind," said Bruton. "You hear a strange sound, something that's unusual in your house. You immediately awake, you don't know what's going on. It's just an unfortunate event."
Phillip Johnson of Johannesburg is a hunter and has firearms in his home. He says he thinks it is possible to accidentally shoot someone you know given the mindset here.
"I personally have my own firearms because I do a lot of hunting and that sort of thing. Having breakfast with my wife this morning she said,’ could you, would you run to the safe and start shooting away?’ And you don't know really what you'd do unless you were in that situation," said Johnson. "It all goes back to what’s happened in America in the last couple of months. You know guns don't kill people, people kill people. And I've never been in that situation, please God I never am. It's a very, very difficult one."
As many here speculate on what may have happened at Pistorius' residence, they all can agree that the situation is tragic.
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