PRETORIA, South Africa:

Oscar Pistorius, the double-amputee sprinter dubbed the Blade Runner, was charged yesterday in the Valentine's Day slaying of his girlfriend at his upscale home in South Africa, a shocking twist to one of the feel-good stories of last summer's Olympics.

Pistorius buried his face in the hood of his workout jacket as officers escorted him from a police station after his arrest in the shooting death of Reeva Steenkamp, a 30-year-old model who had spoken out on Twitter against rape and abuse of women.

Shot four times

Police said she was shot four times in the predawn hours at Pistorius' villa in a gated community in the capital, Pretoria. Officers found a 9mm pistol inside the home and arrested Pistorius on a murder charge.

What sparked the shooting remained unclear, but police said they had received calls in the past about domestic altercations at the home of the 26-year-old athlete, who has spoken publicly about his love of firearms.

- AP