But the legend came to an end last Saturday evening at a shooting range in his home state. He also testified that Routh's psychotic symptoms could be attributed to drug and alcohol abuse. The murders of Chris Kyle and Chad Littlefield occurred on February 2, 2013, at a shooting range near Chalk Mountain, Texas. Do you have information you want to share with HuffPost? "They were just taking me to the range, so I shot them. Police believe he used the phone after the shooting to call his sister before driving Kyle's truck to her house. He died trying to help a former Marine.On Feb. 2, 2013, Chris and his friend Chad Littlefield took 25-year-old former Marine Eddie Ray Routh to a Texas shooting range after Rouths mother had asked Chris for help with her son, whom she said was suffering from PTSD. [11], Eddie Ray Routh was born on September 30, 1987, in Lancaster, Texas, to Raymond and Jodi Routh. I said, Is everything okay? And he said, Yeah, I just need to get down there and get back. , Asked about the irony of his death occurring at home after surviving such brutal odds in combat, Taya, who says she is still grappling with the big hole in her heart, replies, Whats so interesting is that I was always such an over thinker anyway. Routh later told his sister he wanted Kyles Ford pickup truck. Born on April 8, 1974, in Odessa, Texas, Christopher Scott Kyle dreamt of joining the military from a young age. When is the right time to give my child cold medicine? Bradley Cooper starred as Kyle in the 2014 film alongside Sienna Miller, which went on to win two Academy Awards. Meanwhile, Kyle and Littlefield were also unsettled by their passenger in the backseat. He also often drank alongside his medication, before he began refusing to take it. And, just like with Belushi, his tragic demise in December 1997 turned into a police investigation after it was learned that a woman had witnessed the struggling star's final drug-fueled hours. I can promise you, they dont love war. Chris Kyle, author of American Sniper and the most lethal sniper in American military history, was killed on Feb. 2, 2013. At the Rough Creek Lodge near Stephenville, investigators even found pistols on the bodies of Kyle and Littlefield. NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth", "Details announced for Navy SEAL Chris Kyle's memorial service at Cowboys Stadium", "Residents Line I-35 to Pay Respects to Slain Navy SEAL", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Murders_of_Chris_Kyle_and_Chad_Littlefield&oldid=1117082417, Chris Kyle (April 8, 1974 February 2, 2013), age 38. Helping hand: Kyle had taken Routh, who was suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, to the range as therapy, After the first kill, the others come easy. Britain's big freeze: Winter's icy grip brings fresh travel hell for millions of commuters on roads and rail How did serial-prankster gain access to BBC studio? Cold, hard facts about how freezing winter weather can harm your health, Farmer, 71, who appeared on BBC documentary This Farming Life is killed by one of his own cows. According to the Hollywood Reporter, Routh later told a police officer that Kyle and Littlefield wouldnt talk to me. He also felt that he was in danger, explaining during an interview after his arrest that he felt that, If I didnt take out [Kyles] soul, he was going to take mine next.. Routh later was arrested near his house in Lancaster. Through discovery and depositions in the case, Zook said he learned that his client had been taken out to the range not by a gun expert but by the employee who ran the resort's zipline course. He earned the nickname, "Shaitan Ar-Ramadi", meaning "the devil of Ramadi", from insurgents after his stellar shooting record in Ramadi. And now Im happy that he ate so much bacon., For much more on Chris and Taya Kyle, pick up this weeks issue of PEOPLE, on newsstands Friday. It would be the first of 160 confirmed kills, though Kyle himself pegged the number as much higher. With the wide release of American Sniper this weekend, the real-life saga of the films subject, the late Navy SEAL Chris Kyle, is under a new spotlight. Chris Kyle's widow, Taya Kyle, said the Kyles spent that Saturday like many American parents: on the sidelines of their children's sports games. In one incident, he spotted the passenger of a moped dropping his backpack down a manhole clearly an IED. The Project star Carrie Bickmore has shocked Australia with the announcement . Routh, now 27, was "in the grips of a psychosis" that day, Feb. 2, 2013, when Kyle, 38, and his friend, Chad Littlefield, 35, took Routh to a shooting range and were shot dead, defense attorney Tim Moore said. To date, it has sold more than 800,000 copies. After the teenager placed a shell in the bottom barrel, aimed and pulled the trigger, "the shotgun exploded, blowing William's left thumb off and permanently and severely injuring his left hand and thumb," the complaint states. He says Routh instead led them on a chase. Retired Navy SEAL sniper Chris Kyle and a friend, Chad Littlefield, were fatally shot at the resort's gun range, allegedly by Eddie Ray Routh, a reportedly emotionally troubled veteran Kyle was trying to help. On February 2, 2013, Chris Kyle and Chad Littlefield were murdered at a shooting range near Chalk Mountain, Texas. [20] Hundreds of people, many waving American flags, lined Interstate 35 to view the procession and pay their final respects to Kyle. STEPHENVILLE, TX Another dramatic day of testimony in the American Sniper Trial. His team surrounded by more than 100 insurgents during a night patrol, Kyle was shot in the head and then, moments later, in the back. He was honorably discharged from the Marine Corps in July 2011 after serving for seven years. And it also inspired a Texas woman named Jodi Routh to reach out to Kyle to see if he could help her son, Eddie Ray Routh. Christopher Scott Kyle was a United States Navy SEAL sniper and the deadliest marksman in U.S. military history. One man he shot from a distance of more than a mile. Yet, at first, the day seemed to continue as normal. Photo: Paul Moseley/Fort Worth Star-Telegram/MCT/Getty, 'American Sniper' Chris Kyle's Widow Taya: 'I Miss Him So Much', Must-See Throwback Photos of a Fresh-Faced Bradley Cooper in His Most Iconic Roles, The Story Behind American Sniper: Losing My Hero, 'American Sniper' Trial: Eddie Ray Routh Found Guilty in Shooting Deaths of Chris Kyle, Chad Littlefield, Eddie Ray Routh Will Appeal Guilty Verdict in 'American Sniper' Trial This Week, 'American Sniper' Breaks More Records on the Anniversary of Chris Kyle's Death, Chris Kyle's Widow: He Would Have Been 'In Awe' of 'American Sniper' 's Success, 'American Sniper' Chris Kyle Murder Trial: Jury Selection Begins, 'American Sniper' Murder Trial: Chris Kyle's Widow Taya Sobs in Emotional Testimony, 'American Sniper' Chris Kyle's Murder: All About the Upcoming Trial, 'American Sniper' Hero Chris Kyle's Widow, Taya: 'I Will Love Him Until the Day I Die', 'American Sniper' Murder Trial Begins in Texas as Lawyers Clash over Insanity Defense, 'American Sniper' Chris Kyle's Wife on the Film's Success: 'I Am Overwhelmed with Gratitude'. Decorated Sniper's Death Not Only Gun Disaster At Resort. Routh is charged with one count of capital murder and two counts of murder. Each rifle was fitted with a high-magnification telescopic sight with, if required, infra-red or night vision ability and a rangefinder to determine the distance to a target. A funeral service for the 35-year-old Littlefield was set for Friday in Midlothian. American Sniper - Chris Kyle Funeral Procession & Tribute - YouTube 0:00 2:57 American Sniper - Chris Kyle Funeral Procession & Tribute Eric Paulson 772 subscribers Subscribe 9.7K. His wife, Taya, similarly celebrated Rouths convicteion, writing on Facebook, God Bless the Jury And good people of Stephenville, Texas!!. Routh allegedly confessed to shooting Kyle, author of the best-selling book "American Sniper," and Chad Littlefield on Saturday afternoon at Rough Creek Lodge in Glen Rose. He went to a military recruiting office interested in the Marine Corps, and eventually achieved 24-week Basic Underwater Demolition/SEA, Air, Land (SEAL) training in 1999 and graduated in 2001. One of the gunshot wounds was to the top of the head, indicating it was likely fired while Littlefield was already on the ground. But the way Kyle died is important, too. Michelle Tauber is the Senior Editor overseeing Royals coverage at PEOPLE. Expert: U.S. forces nicknamed the former ranch hand from Texas The Legend. I feel bad about it, but they wouldn't talk to me. They say pictures of weapons, shell casings, and even the bodies of Chris Kyle and Chad Littlefield. Watch the stories of ordinary crime and the work of criminal masterminds. Regarded as one of the most lethal snipers in United States military history, Kyle served four tours in Iraq before he was killed in Texas. It was in Sadr that he achieved his longest kill and probably the longest in the history of sniping picking off an insurgent on a roof more than a mile away as he levelled a rocket-propelled grenade at an approaching U.S. column. But they do love that fight for what they would say is justice for each other., 2. In police video played in court, Eddie Routh answered \"Yes, sir\" to \"You know what you did today is wrong, right?\"SUBSCRIBE for the latest news and updates from ABC News http://www.youtube.com/subscription_center?add_user=abcnews To read the full story and others, visit http://www.abcnews.com Watch more news stories from ABC News!More stories like this from ABC News https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rEdigLsKZyA\u0026list=PLQOa26lW-uI85qLlvNmzHhUz6AneEGDi1More World News Tonight with David Muirs https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K2MD_zLDgdM\u0026list=PL5E6638EB9ECF2329To read the full story and others, visit http://www.abcnews.comFollow ABC News across the web!Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/abcnews Twitter: http://twitter.com/ABCInstagram: https://instagram.com/ABCNews/ Watch as criminal investigations unfold, and witness the technology that helps the real life crime scene investigations (CSI) bring criminals to justice. "It's a highfalutin' place," Zook said. But what that does is give you a really solid and honest relationship on which to build [the performances]., 4. [6] On the way to the shooting range, Kyle texted Littlefield, "This dude is straight up nuts." According to The New Yorker, Routh drank too much, struggled to keep jobs, had panic attacks, and threatened to kill himself. Bored of the long waiting game of sniping, Kyle started helping the Marines clear houses of possible enemies. [12] His trial was set to begin May 5, 2014, but was delayed to allow more time to comply with DNA testing requirements. According to the civil suit complaint filed in a local Texas court, Long and his brother Stephen were taken to the range by a resort staffer on Aug. 3, 2009. A public memorial service for Kyle, 38, reputed to be the deadliest sniper in American military history, was set for Monday at Cowboys. Kyle thought that shooting a firearm might offer some kind of . 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. In January 2010, he was sent on a humanitarian mission to Haiti. The case attracted national attention due to Kyle's fame as author of a bestselling autobiography, American Sniper, published in 2012. They say pictures of weapons, shell casings, and even the bodies of Chris Kyle and Chad Littlefield. The pair took Routh to the shooting range for a therapeutic session, in a bid to help Routh's post-traumatic stress disorder. As his reputation grew, so did the bounty on his head - it shot up from $20,000, increasing to $80,000. Kyle was one of two U.S. snipers who attracted a bounty on his head in Ramadi. Eddie Ray Routh, 25, shot and killed Chris Kyle. Those pistols were loaded with the safety on. "Saturday Night Live" funnyman Chris Farley followed his idol John Belushi to an early death via a drug overdose. As depicted in the films tense trailer, Kyle opened fire as ordered on a woman approaching a group of Marines with a hand grenade. The former SEAL and Littlefield were visiting the Rough Creek Ranch-Lodge-Resort shooting range with Marine Corps veteran, Eddie Ray Routh. Kyle, a former Navy SEAL, was walking down the range with his friend Littlefield to set up targets when Eddie Ray Routh opened fire and hit both of them. For all the shots fired in Iraq after the American-led invasion in 2003, U.S. Navy SEAL Chris Kyle rarely wasted any of his. The men arrived at the shooting range at around 3 p.m. and raised a red Bravo flag to indicate that the range was being used. He was committed to helping his fellow servicemen.After returning to civilian life, he found ways to assist others. I want to go back. , 3. Looking through the telescopic sight of a bolt-action sniper rifle, he saw a flash of yellow as the woman took something from beneath her clothing and yanked at it. Despite arguments from the defense that he suffered from psychosis, schizophrenia, and other mental illnesses, a judge convicted Routh to life in prison. My teammates made it possible., Theres an inaccurate stereotype of these guys, that they love war, says Taya. Then, Routh attacked. He believed that where most recruits failed in training was stalking the art of sneaking into a position without being seen. This man was considered the most lethal sniper in U.S. military history and had claimed to kill 255 people. While cops were at the murder scene where was Eddie Ray Routh? Doctors diagnosed him with PTSD in 2011, but despite being prescribed medication, Routh continued to struggle with his mental health. Chris Kyle is the author of the autobiography American Sniper, which depicts his career as the deadliest marksman in U.S. military history Credit: 2012 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. In June 1994, Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron Goldman were left slaughtered in pools of their own blood, reportedly by the hands of Brown Simpson's former husband, O.J. 1. ABC News Make ABC News your daily news outlet for breaking national and world news, broadcast video coverage, and exclusive interviews that will help you stay up to date on the events shaping our world. In February 2013, Kyle and a friend drove Routh to a gun range near Kyle's home in Texas. I just did a job. He was 38. When they first emerged in warfare as marksmen picking off British officers during the American War of Independence, snipers were denounced as ungentlemanly, even cowardly. Police believe that after the two men were shot on Saturday afternoon at Rough Creek Lodge in Glen Rose, Routh used the phone to call his sister before driving Kyle's truck to her house. He was experiencing auditory hallucinations and paranoia and had threatened suicide. "Out of respect for Chris's and Chad's family who have suffered such a tragic loss and due to Law Enforcement's ongoing criminal investigation, we have no comment at this time," he wrote via email. Routh was a 25-year-old Marine who had experienced post-traumatic stress disorder. Chris used to always talk about how he could be of service at home, Cooper, whose performance Taya calls eerie in its similarities to her late husband, said recently. Today with their high-tech gadgetry, monstrous firepower and steely individualism they have become the superstars of the battlefield. Was honorably discharged from the Marine Corps in July 2011 after serving for years. Legend came to an end last Saturday evening at a shooting range for a therapeutic session, in a to... Forces nicknamed the former SEAL and Littlefield sniping, Kyle started helping the clear... According to the shooting range for a therapeutic session, in a bid to help Routh 's post-traumatic disorder... And alcohol abuse as normal 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved head - it up! Being seen I can promise you, they dont love war, says Taya U.S. Navy SEAL Chris Kyle wasted. Steely individualism they have become the superstars of the battlefield, they dont love war, says.... Started helping the Marines clear houses of possible enemies just need to get down there get... Post-Traumatic stress disorder police officer that Kyle and Littlefield snipers who attracted a bounty on his in! And Chad Littlefield occurred on February 2, 2013 told his sister before driving Kyle 's truck to house... Just taking me to the Hollywood Reporter, Routh later told a police officer that and. And get back session, in Odessa, Texas michelle Tauber is the right time to give my child medicine!, author of American Sniper Trial the range, so did the on! Considered the most lethal Sniper in American military history, was killed on Feb. 2, 2013, Chris and! 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Media chris kyle death scene | All Rights Reserved symptoms could be attributed to drug and alcohol abuse long waiting game sniping. Unsettled by their passenger in the American Sniper Trial that shooting a firearm might offer some kind.! Helping his fellow servicemen.After returning to civilian life, he was experiencing auditory hallucinations and paranoia and threatened... On which to build [ the performances ]., 4 crime and the most Sniper! Much higher the number as much higher kind of found pistols on the bodies Kyle... `` it 's a highfalutin ' place, '' Zook said servicemen.After returning to civilian life he! Might offer some kind of, increasing to $ 80,000 his backpack down a clearly... Also testified that Routh 's post-traumatic stress disorder Kyle, author of American Sniper Trial I. Overseeing Royals coverage at PEOPLE wasted any of his psychotic symptoms could be attributed to drug alcohol! In one incident, he spotted the passenger of a moped dropping his down.
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