Local Paralympic athlete shocked at star's arrest

A Paralympic superstar who made history last year in London as the first double amputee to compete in the Olympic Games is now a suspect in his girlfriend's murder.  

Police arrested Oscar Pistorius for allegedly shooting his girlfriend, model, Reeva Steenkemp, several times.  

Paramedics were trying to revive her when police arrived at the house. Police say Pistorius was at home when the shooting happened and they are not looking for any other suspects.  

The arrest comes as a shock to many of his fans, especially people in the Olympic and Paralympic community

Georgian Paralympian Al Mead was in disbelief when he heard the news.

"Oscar has become an iconic figure. Looked up to in a variety of ways, not just by the Paralympic community but the Olympic community," Mead said.

Mead lost his left leg after a basketball accident when he was 9.  But the 54-year-old didn't use that as an excuse and went on to win gold and silver medals in the Paralympics in Seoul and Barcelona. Both Mead and the man known as "The Blade Runner" use similar prostheses.

Mead is now an associate pastor at New Hope Baptist Church in Fayette County and often points to Pistorius as a role model when talking to youth.

"I motivate and inspire kids, teens all the time. I use Oscar as an example and have done that within the past couple of days as well," Mead said.

Mead says Pistorius arrest should be a lesson for all of us.

"That's why you have to be careful not to look at humans as iconic figures because they can fall as well," Mead said.

Mead tells us he follows Pistorious on Twitter and has carried on an online conversation with the Olympian.