South African Paralympic sprinter Oscar Pistorius was charged with murder on Thursday after his girlfriend was fatally shot inside his home.

According to the New York Times, Pistorius told the police that he had accidentally shot model Reeva Steenkamp when he mistook her for an intruder.

A Pretoria police captain confirmed to News24 that the woman, Pistorius’ girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp, was shot in both the head and arm and died at the scene. It is believed four shots were fired, and police say a 9mm pistol was recovered from the home in the suburban Silverwoods Country Estate's area of Pretoria, the nation’s capital.

A police spokesperson said they had previously visited the residence to deal with complaints of a "domestic nature" but would not offer further information.

In other accounts, Pistorius is said to have been concerned for his safety and to have kept a small arsenal in his bedroom.

"We had been talking at his training base in Johannesburg and he drove me up [to his home] to continue the interview," [British writer Jonathan] McEvoy continued. "You had to stop and speak to the guard on the way in and on the way out. "I think I mentioned that the security must mean that area was safe, but he said that wasn't necessarily the case as the guards could be 'in on it.'" Indeed, Pretoria news reports detailed the apprehension of a crime ring that operated from the Silver Lakes area in 2010, one that included police officers in what was known as a "blue light" crime.

The 26-year-old Blade Runner competed in the 4x400 meter relay at the 2012 London Olympics and won two gold medals at the Paralympic Games.

Read more about about the runner: "Oscar Pistorius Has a Huge Carbon Footprint."