HOW OSCAR PISTORIUS, THE SOUTH AFRICA OLYMPIC BLADE RUNNER KILLED HIS WIFE ON VAL'S DAY

A beloved model is dead, those who knew her are in mourning, and one of the world's most admired Olympians is charged with her murder after a Valentine's Day shooting in South Africa.

Oscar Pistorius, a Paralympic runner who blazed new terrain by competing in last summer's Olympics, is accused of killing his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp. A shooting took place inside his upscale home in Pretoria, South Africa, early Thursday, and only the two of them were there at the time, police said.

Shock waves from the incident quickly reverberated across the world, casting a shadow over the man known as the "Blade Runner" for his achievements on prosthetic limbs.

Pistorius will be named officially as the suspect when he appears in court Friday, in keeping with South African law. Authorities have already announced that the suspect

is Pistorius' age.

Investigators gave no motive for the alleged killing.

"Previous incidents" at the home, police say

A police spokeswoman said there had been "previous incidents" at the home, including "allegations of a domestic nature."

Police were alerted to the shooting by neighbors, and residents had "heard things earlier," spokeswoman Denise Beukes said.

Some South African media outlets said the woman was mistaken for an intruder. South Africa has a high crime rate, and many homeowners keep weapons to ward off intruders.

Beukes said those reports did not come from police. There did not appear to be signs of forced entry at the home, she added.

"This is a very quiet area and this is a secure estate," Beukes said.

A pistol was recovered at the scene, police said.