(FOX News & AP) Paralympic champion Oscar Pistorius, who became famous as the 'Blade Runner' when he competed in the 2012 Olympic Games, was arrested Thursday after a woman was found shot to death in his South African home. 

Lt. Col. Katlego Mogale tells The Associated Press police received a call Thursday morning that there had been a shooting at Pistorius' home. When police arrived, they found paramedics trying to revive a 30-year-old woman who had been shot. The woman later died at the scene.

Several South African media outlets reported that the woman was Pistorius' girlfriend and that he may have mistaken her for a burglar and shot her, but police did not clarify the woman's relationship to Pistorius.

Mogale says officers found a 9-mm pistol in the home. South Africa has some of the world's highest rates of violent crime and some homeowners carry weapons to defend themselves against intruders. 

Police have not released the name of the woman, but the publicist for Reeva Steenkamp, Pistorius' girlfriend, told Sky News that Steenkamp had died. Tributes to Steenkamp, a model, poured onto social media sites.

Many South African media outlets had reported that the dead woman was Pistorius' girlfriend Steenkamp and that he may have mistaken her for a burglar and shot her, but police did not clarify the dead woman's relationship to Pistorius. Mogale said the victim's family had not yet identified the body.

It was reported that the woman may have been trying to surprise Pistorius for Valentine's Day and he thought she was an intruder breaking into his home.

Steenkamp tweeted her excitement about Valentine's Day hours before the shooting.

Pistorius made history at the London Olympics last year when he became the first double-amputee runner to compete on the track at the Games and is one of South Africa's most famous athletes.

Having had both of his legs amputated below the knee when he was less than a year old, he campaigned for years to be allowed to compete against able-bodied athletes and finally was cleared by sport's highest court to be able to run at the top events. 

Pistorius competed in the 400 meters and on South Africa's 4x400 relay team at the London Games and also retained his Paralympic title in the 400 meters in London.

The 26-year-old is expected to appear in court later Thursday.