Pistorius Suspect in Girlfriend's Murder
South African Olympian and Paralympian Oscar Pistorius was charged Thursday for the shooting death of his girlfriend, model Reeva Steenkamp.
Police said the body was found with four bullet wounds from a 9 mm pistol in Pistorius' home in a gated community in Pretoria, South Africa.
While police in South Africa cannot name suspects in crimes until they have appeared in court, they did confirm that Pistorius had been charged.
The Olympian was the only person in his house during the time of the murder and "there is no other suspect involved," officials said.
South African local media have been reporting that Pistorius mistook his girlfriend for a burglar after she snuck into his house around 3 a.m. Thursday, but police have yet to confirm any details surrounding the incident.
Pistorius and Steenkamp had only been dating "for a few months," according to Pistorius' former coach.
In an interview for The New York Times Magazine from January 2012, Pistorius told the writer that he enjoys going to the shooting range "just sometimes when I can't sleep." During the interview, upon Pistorius' request, he went with the writer to a shooting range where they shot at targets with a 9 mm pistol.
Pistorius' court hearing has been scheduled for Friday in order to provide forensic investigators adequate time to complete their work.
The 26-year-old made history at the 2012 London Olympics for being the first double-amputee track athlete to race in both the Olympic and Paralympic games. He is known as the "Blade Runner," and has become a South African icon.
The Associated Press contribute to this report.