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 deployed to a base near Baghdad in September 2007, where he worked for six months as a prison guard and repaired weapons. Originally published on 12 February, 2015Former Marine Eddie Ray Routh, 27, is being tried for the 2013 murder of "American Sniper" Chris Kyle, 38, and the m. So Kyle tried life as a cowboy first. But the legend came to an end last Saturday evening at a shooting range in his home state. The murders of Chris Kyle and Chad Littlefield occurred on February 2, 2013, at a shooting range near Chalk Mountain, Texas. A Chicago prostitute later admitted that she had left Chris alone in his apartment as he had began to pass out on the floor! Boccafogli added that the Long case was still an "on-going investigation" and therefore he could not comment. Continue your flu-free streak with these tips to stay healthy this flu season. 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. He served four tours in the Iraq War and was awarded several commendations for acts of heroism and meritorious service in combat. I'm getting worried." Why it may be caused by 'one infection after another' - as Emma Raducanu is knocked OUT of the Australian Open after her battle for a comeback, at a set and break American tennis legend Chris Evert announces she's cancer free with a '90 percent chance it will never come Rafa Nadal's wife breaks down in TEARS as she watches the defending champion crash out of the Australian How much will YOUR broadband go up in price? Chris Kyle was an American former US Navy SEAL whose death in 2013 was a shock to many. He says Routh instead led them on a chase. The murders of Chris Kyle and Chad Littlefield occurred on February 2, 2013, at a shooting range near Chalk Mountain, Texas. On the way to the range, Kyle texted Littlefield referring to Routh, saying: "This dude is straight-up nuts.". He survived gunshot wounds, explosions and horrors of war most of us couldn't imagine. 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? With up to 160 confirmed kills (he put the real figure at 255), he became the deadliest sniper in U.S. military history surpassing the total of 93 achieved by Marine Carlos Hathcock during the Vietnam War. Kyle, who was a former Navy SEAL, and his friend Littlefield were walking down range to set up targets when Eddie Ray Routh opened fire and hit both of them. Like Kyle, Eddie Ray Routh had served time in Iraq. A final scene of 'American Sniper' showing Navy SEAL sniper Chris Kyle's gory death at a rifle range was cut after the victim's wife urged screenwriters to leave it out for the sake of. Starring Bradley Cooper, it garnered good reviews, though it excluded the story of Chris Kyles death. I remember Chris saying that he never knew [what it was like] until that first shot that there is no way you know until you are on the gun, says Taya, 40. "It's a highfalutin' place," Zook said. 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 staff writer for All That's Interesting, Kaleena Fraga has also had her work featured in The Washington Post and Gastro Obscura, and she published a book on the Seattle food scene for the Eat Like A Local series. Zook has closely followed this month's tragedy. As Kyle listened, Jodi told him about how her 25-year-old son, Eddie, had struggled to adjust to civilian life after serving in the military. "I found it somewhat odd that they were down there by themselves in an isolated area and that there was nobody there around them," he said. [4], On February 2, 2013, Kyle and his friend, Chad Littlefield, 35, were shot and killed by Eddie Ray Routh at the Rough Creek Ranch-Lodge-Resort shooting range in Erath County, Texas. Zook said Long had next-to-no experience in shooting. My teammates made it possible., Theres an inaccurate stereotype of these guys, that they love war, says Taya. Kyle became so notorious that Iraqi insurgents dubbed him Al Shaitan Ramadi: the Devil of Ramadi. WASHINGTON -- Last Saturday, the Rough Creek Lodge and Resort, a luxury getaway known for hosting corporate retreats and family vacations 90 miles southwest of Dallas, became the scene of a double homicide. Kyle suspected the insurgents got information from Iraqis supposedly working for the U.S. Instead, a February afternoon in 2013 turned into murder when former United States Navy SEAL sniper Chris Kyle died alongside his friend, Chad Littlefield, after a veteran with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) who they were trying to mentor suddenly opened fire. 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. This man was considered the most lethal sniper in U.S. military history and had claimed to kill 255 people. In the end, I think we felt that this was a film about Chriss life and not about his death, the films screenwriter Jason Hall told New York Daily News. The closest he came to dying was in 2008 during his fourth Iraq deployment, in the insurgent-infested Baghdad slum neighbourhood of Sadr City. 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. "It seems to be run OK from the outside. Rowing machines simulate a realistic on-the-water rowing experience. I can promise you, they dont love war. Asked whether he regretted any of his kills, he told D Magazine, I regret the people I couldnt kill before they got to my boys., Still, he told D that he didnt feel like a hero. 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. Do you have information you want to share with HuffPost. Hall added that Kyles widow, Taya, had also asked him not to include her husbands murder for the sake of their children. Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? 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. It was incredibly personal and intimate, says Miller. Newsfeed Now: Biden unveils $1.75 trillion spending, Newsfeed Now: Democrats push to wrap up negotiations, Newsfeed Now: FDA panel backs Pfizers low-dose COVID-19, Newsfeed Now: Industry peers angry over deadly movie, Newsfeed Now: Infrastructure Bill drawing toward, Newsfeed Now: FBI IDs remains of Brian Laundrie;, WATCH: Master Minds host, star discuss hit game show, This Dallas restaurant serves some of the meanest,, Texas ranked among best states in US for business, Judge denies class action status for fired Twitter, Cooler temps to end work week behind cold front, Texas deli ranked among best places to get pastrami, Expect to receive lower income tax refund this year, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. [6], Routh was a 25-year-old U.S. Marine Corps veteran from Lancaster, Texas. A Lancaster officer described trying to talk Rought into getting out of Chris Kyles truck. A public memorial service for the 38-year-old Kyle, reputed to be the deadliest sniper in American military history, is scheduled for Monday at Cowboys Stadium near Dallas. As he told the Dallas Morning News in 2012, he wanted to be a cowboy[or] be in the military.. He doubled back to his home to find police officers waiting, Nash said, before leading police on a chase that ended because an officer slammed a police vehicle into the truck. Vote here and tell us why. However, according to the record, it was confirmed that only 160 of the kills were confirmed.. Not to mention this man had contributed his skill four times during the time of the Iraq War. But on the other hand, Kyle had spent the final years leading up to his death helping other veterans readjust to civilian life. Chris Kyle, the deadliest sniper in U.S. History, and his friend Chad Littlefield were shot dead at a shooting range in Glen Rose, Texas on Sunday. These Texas zip codes are among the hottest in, Texas is the 7th best state to drive in, study finds, Download the CW33 News App for iOS and Android, Heres when you should give your child cold medication, These TX zip codes are among the hottest in the, Republicans threaten vote to increase debt ceiling, Popular Chicago-based eatery Portillos grand opening, Dallas Children Advocacy Center hosts Mahjong for, Al-Qaida chiefs pattern of life was key to death, Hospital bills $847 facility fee for Zoom call, Whats next in unprecedented case of truck driver. Long's attorney, Bill Zook, told HuffPost that the explosion tore through skin and ligament, blowing away the entire thumb except for the bone. The Long case is set to go to trial on April 1. When Taya Kyle took the stand Wednesday, she told jurors that her husband met Routh . Scanning the deserted main street of a small town in the Nasiriya region, he spotted a woman step out of a house with her child. 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. I knew this would give me a voice so I could speak about the guys I know who were killed. Doctors diagnosed him with PTSD in 2011, but despite being prescribed medication, Routh continued to struggle with his mental health. Security concerns after Youtuber managed to tape phone Money saving guru Martin Lewis reveals easy FIRST step to clearing thousands of pounds in debt, Six people die, including three children, when their throats are sliced by KITE STRINGS at Indian festival. Here are five things to know about the decorated two-time Silver Star recipient, whose nickname was the Legend.. Shock first photos inside Serena Williams' crumbling childhood home, Ana Walshe's pals reveal what 'delayed her fate' after husband charged, Child's body found in search for missing girl, 4, who was 'beaten to death', Missing woman's husband charged with murder after blood found in basement, 2020 THE SUN, US, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED | TERMS OF USE | PRIVACY | YOUR AD CHOICES | SITEMAP, Chris Kyle is the author of the autobiography American Sniper, which depicts his career as the deadliest marksman in U.S. military history, Chris Kyle's book sold over 1.2 million copies and was adapted into a Clint Eastwood film, Eddie Ray Routh shot and killed Chris Kyle and his friend Chad Littlefield, Kyle had taken Routh, who was suffering from PTSD, to a shooting range. 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events. By the end of the first day, he had shot three men and his partner another two. I wanted to be able to let people know about the sacrifices that not only people in the service make, but what their families go through, Kyle explained to the Dallas Morning News. After all, hed helped other vets before. Born on April 8, 1974, in Odessa, Texas, Christopher Scott Kyle dreamt of joining the military from a young age. STEPHENVILLE, TX Another dramatic day of testimony in the American Sniper Trial. When you visit this site, it may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. 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. He texted to Littlefield, "This dude is straight-up nuts," according to Moore. Urging a squad of up to 20 Marines to follow him as he rushed into enemy fire, Kyle looked around to find he was alone. [11], Eddie Ray Routh was born on September 30, 1987, in Lancaster, Texas, to Raymond and Jodi Routh. A cellphone seized from the home of an Iraq War veteran accused of killing a former Navy SEAL sniper and his friend may contain pictures of him with the victims before their deaths at a Texas shooting range, according to police documents released on Thursday. We are no longer accepting comments on this article. Routh told his sister and brother-in-law that the men 'were out shooting target practice and he couldn't trust them so he killed them before they could kill him', according to a police search warrant affidavit. According to Zook, the force of firing an extra shell caused the explosion. The contrasting portraits emerged as Routh's murder trial got underway in a Stephenville, Texas, courtroom Wednesday. Early in the battle for the city, Kyle was injured after a rocket-propelled grenade hit the building in which he was hiding, collapsing a wall on to his legs and pinning him there. Please look at the time stamp on the story to see when it was last updated. A keen deer hunter, Kyle the son of a church deacon said he already knew how to shoot, but sniper school taught him the science behind it all. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. Routh had been constantly in and out of mental institutions over a two-year period and had been diagnosed with schizophrenia, as well as PTSD after his career in the Marine Corps. Bored of the long waiting game of sniping, Kyle started helping the Marines clear houses of possible enemies. Tara Kyle cries on the stand during court inside the Erath County Donald R. Jones Justice Center during the murder trial for Eddie Ray Routh in Stephenville, Texas, Feb. 11, 2015. A public memorial service for Kyle, 38, reputed to be the deadliest sniper in American military history, was set for Monday at Cowboys Stadium near Dallas. Kyle shot each of the balls and many of the fighters drowned. The phone, a box of 9 mm ammunition, drug paraphernalia and a blue-jean jacket were seized from the 25-year-old Routh's home after he was arrested near his house in Lancaster, Texas, according to a police search warrant affidavit, inventory sheet and other documents. [6] On the way to the shooting range, Kyle texted Littlefield, "This dude is straight up nuts." Head to abc.go.com for programming schedule and more information on ABC News. 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 2008 during his fourth Iraq deployment, in the form of cookies they love war, says Taya from... Of Chris Kyles death pass out on the way to the range, Kyle texted,. Texted Littlefield referring to Routh, saying: `` this dude is straight-up nuts..! 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