[h=3]Associated Press[/h]PRETORIA, South Africa—Olympic athlete Oscar Pistorius was taken into custody and was expected to face court Thursday after a 30-year-old woman was shot dead at his home in the country's capital, Pretoria.
Lt. Col. Katlego Mogale told the Associated Press that police received a call in the early hours of the morning that there had been a shooting at the double-amputee runner's home in a gated complex.
Reuters
Lt. Col. Mogale said when police arrived they found paramedics trying to revive the woman, who had been shot an unspecified number of times. Lt. Col. Mogale, who was at the scene, said the woman died at the house. Police have not released the name of the woman.
Oliver Morin/Agence France-Presse/Getty ImagesSouth Africa's Oscar Pistorius, here at the London 2012 Olympics, was involved in a deadly shooting at his home Thursday, police said.
Officers found a 9-mm pistol at Mr. Pistorius' house. Lt. Col. Mogale said the 26-year-old Olympian was expected to appear in court later on Thursday.
Many South African media outlets reported that the dead woman was Mr. Pistorius's girlfriend and that he may have mistaken her for a burglar and shot her, but police did not clarify the woman's relationship to Mr. Pistorius. It was reported that she was trying to surprise him for Valentine's Day and he thought she was an intruder.
South Africa's Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee released a statement later Thursday.
Saying it had been "inundated" with requests for comment, the organization said that it "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 organization is in no position to comment on the incident," the statement continued, "other than to say our deepest sympathy and condolences have been expressed to the families of all concerned."
The organization said it would be inappropriate to comment because of the continuing police investigation.
Mr. Pistorius made history in London last year when he became the first double-amputee track athlete to compete in the Olympic Games. He is among the most famous sportsmen in South Africa—or, indeed, the world.
Having had both his legs amputated below the knee before his first birthday because of a congenital condition, he campaigned for years to be allowed to compete against able-bodied athletes. Having initially been banned because of his prosthetics—carbon-fiber blades that critics said gave him an unfair advantage—he was cleared by sport's highest court in 2008 and allowed to run at the top events.
He competed in the 400 meters and on South Africa's 4x400 relay team at the London Games, making history after being have his selection confirmed on South Africa's team at the very last minute. He also retained his Paralympic title in the 400 meters in London.
Lt. Col. Katlego Mogale told the Associated Press that police received a call in the early hours of the morning that there had been a shooting at the double-amputee runner's home in a gated complex.
Reuters
Lt. Col. Mogale said when police arrived they found paramedics trying to revive the woman, who had been shot an unspecified number of times. Lt. Col. Mogale, who was at the scene, said the woman died at the house. Police have not released the name of the woman.
Oliver Morin/Agence France-Presse/Getty ImagesSouth Africa's Oscar Pistorius, here at the London 2012 Olympics, was involved in a deadly shooting at his home Thursday, police said.
Officers found a 9-mm pistol at Mr. Pistorius' house. Lt. Col. Mogale said the 26-year-old Olympian was expected to appear in court later on Thursday.
Many South African media outlets reported that the dead woman was Mr. Pistorius's girlfriend and that he may have mistaken her for a burglar and shot her, but police did not clarify the woman's relationship to Mr. Pistorius. It was reported that she was trying to surprise him for Valentine's Day and he thought she was an intruder.
South Africa's Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee released a statement later Thursday.
Saying it had been "inundated" with requests for comment, the organization said that it "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 organization is in no position to comment on the incident," the statement continued, "other than to say our deepest sympathy and condolences have been expressed to the families of all concerned."
The organization said it would be inappropriate to comment because of the continuing police investigation.
Mr. Pistorius made history in London last year when he became the first double-amputee track athlete to compete in the Olympic Games. He is among the most famous sportsmen in South Africa—or, indeed, the world.
Having had both his legs amputated below the knee before his first birthday because of a congenital condition, he campaigned for years to be allowed to compete against able-bodied athletes. Having initially been banned because of his prosthetics—carbon-fiber blades that critics said gave him an unfair advantage—he was cleared by sport's highest court in 2008 and allowed to run at the top events.
He competed in the 400 meters and on South Africa's 4x400 relay team at the London Games, making history after being have his selection confirmed on South Africa's team at the very last minute. He also retained his Paralympic title in the 400 meters in London.