Pistorius' Girlfriend Shot Dead; Outpouring of Reaction Toward Accused Olympian

South African Olympic "Blade Runner" Oscar Pistorius was charged with the shooting death of his 30-year-old model girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp on Thursday.

Pistorius, one of the heartwarming stories of the 2012 London Olympics, was the first double amputee to run in the Olympics and reach the semifinals of the 400 meters in the 2012 London Games. He took home a silver medal this past summer as part of the South Africa relay team.

He was arrested in Pretoria and taken into custody Thursday morning.

While details are still scant, French news service Agence France-Presse reports the two had a history of fighting.

More on Pistorius: Police say previous 'domestic' incidents reported at star athlete's home
— Agence France-Presse (@AFP) February 14, 2013

Reports quickly spread that Pistorius claimed Steenkamp was trying to surprise him for Valentine's Day and he mistook her for an intruder. However, that alibi appeared to not hold water.

According to the BBC, reports say Pistorius claims he thought Steenkamp was an intruder. But, SA police have apparently ruled that out.
— David Crockett (@dcrockett17) February 14, 2013

Reporters at #Pistorius murder scene asking each other who came up with burglar scenario. Everyone heard it from someone else
— Daniel Howden (@howden_africa) February 14, 2013

Something not quite right about the Pistorius story to me. Why shoot her 4 times accidently?
— Freddie Shires (@fshires) February 14, 2013

One user referenced an article in the Daily Mail that pointed to a cache of weapons in the Olympian's home

A reporter said that when he visited Pistorius at his home last year, a pistol was by his bed and a machine gun was propped up by a window.
— LangaZulu (@Langelihle_) February 14, 2013

There was another tie to firearms, another user said.

A haunting article about Pistorius from last year - involves a trip to the shooting range with the 9mm pistol nytimes.com/2012/01/22/mag…
— Rebecca Armitage (@BecArmitage) February 14, 2013

Some twitter users were in disbelief that Pistorius could have possibly mistaken Steenkamp for a burglar.

Pistorius girlfriend definitely wasn't a burglar anyway! twitter.com/CMcCullagh92/s…
— Calum McCullagh (@CMcCullagh92) February 14, 2013

Pistorius' girlfriend was a model, law graduate: JOHANNESBURG(AP) -- The woman who was shot dead in double-... apne.ws/12jZVu2
— ïMãð~® » vÍçÌ~© (@iMaD7x) February 14, 2013

Reading the limited info on Pistorius, I'm trying to understand how one mistakes a tall, blonde model for your average everyday burglar?
— Lev Naginsky (@levnaginsky) February 14, 2013

A wave of dispair spread across Twitter.

My God, the Pistorius news, whatever way it has happened, is so shocking that push you just not to hear anything about it
— Tancredi Palmeri (@tancredipalmeri) February 14, 2013

So sad reading the Blade Runner's girlfriend's Twitter feed (@reevasteenkamp) in light of his arrest bit.ly/X72QCn. Shocking story
— paulglester (@paulglester) February 14, 2013

How would this be playing out in the media if Pistorius were Black, poor, "able bodied," not high profile? Same shock? Same sympathy?
— Blacknificent (@MrPhamodi) February 14, 2013

Woken up to the horrendous news about Oscar Pistorius mistakenly shooting his girlfriend. What an awful tragedy.
— Jessica Ennis (@J_Ennis) February 14, 2013

Reaction to Pistorius story = people slowly realising en masse that being an athletics hero doesn't make your unlikely defence more likely.
— Sarah Ditum (@sarahditum) February 14, 2013

The tragedy didn't stop many from joking about the situation.

Oscar’s defence will be that he was absolutely legless at the time.
— John Cleese (@JohnCleese) February 14, 2013

"Oscar Pistorius's favorite band has always been 'Bullet For My Valentine'" #leaveit
— Geraint Davies (@geraintsion) February 14, 2013

Wasn't Nike's slogan for Pistorius at one point "I am the bullet in the chamber"? That seems horribly wrong now.
— Thierry (@tcote) February 14, 2013

Perhaps Pistorius's girlfriend was a really a replicant #bladerunner
— Old Holborn (@Old_Holborn) February 14, 2013

In contrast, others couldn't stomach Steenkamp's death.

I keep writing tweets and deleting them about Pistorius. #zipit
— Emma (@e_r0se) February 14, 2013

i must be at that point in my life where i dont find jokes about people who have JUST died funny at all. Pistorius story is a true tragedy.
— Captain Bungernuts (@punseeker) February 14, 2013

what is this? i'm horrified by the Pistorius story, but my twitter stream is full of wisecracks such as "he hasn't got a leg to stand on".
— Anthony (@Montaigne26) February 14, 2013