South Afrian 'Blade Runner' arrested for allegedly killing girlfriend

South Africa's Paralympian Oscar Pistorius was arrested on Thursday for allegedly killing his girlfriend.

Oscar Pistorius participating in the Olympics. (Source: Reuters)

Pistorius reportedly mistook his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp as a burglar at his Pretoria home and shot her in her arm and head with a 9mm pistol early Thursday morning.

Steenkamp, a blonde model, was declared dead on the scene by paramedics who were alerted by neighbors. Police spokesman Denise Beukes said a case of murder has been opened.

Pistorius, who was traumatized by losing a person he said he was very close to, was fully cooperating with the investigation, Beukes said.

The SA Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC) refused to comment on 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 Olympic body said in a statement.

Pistorius, 26, who was born without a fibula in both legs, was the first double amputee to run in the Olympics. Nicknamed the "Blade Runner," Pistorius was able to compete by wearing carbon fiber prosthetic blades.

A national hero in South Africa, Pistorius ran in 11 races during the 2012 Games and the Paralympics. He returned home with "two Paralympic gold medals, Paralympic silver, two world records, a Paralympic record, an Olympic individual semi-final and an Olympic final."

(Xinhua)