Police in the Dallas suburb also have obtained search warrants for the cellphone's pictures, text messages and recently called or missed phone numbers. 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. 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. It would be the first of 160 confirmed kills, though Kyle himself pegged the number as much higher. Im sure theyve forgiven me.. The murders of Chris Kyle and Chad Littlefield occurred on February 2, 2013, at a shooting range near Chalk Mountain, Texas. 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. Kyle was not a soldier particularly racked by conscience. As the Marines prepared to move in for the first time, Kyle and his partner dashed into a well-placed apartment building on the edge of the city. He would learn how far ahead of targets he needed to aim if they were running or walking, and how to adjust for elevation or the wind. Routh, a 25-year-old Marine, had been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder. But you never know unless you are an insider.". The Americans even found wanted posters, labelling him the devil of Ramadi and giving such detailed information as the red cross tattoo on his arm. Anything we can do, I think its worth it for these guys who have put it all on the line, she says. Kyle became so notorious that Iraqi insurgents dubbed him Al Shaitan Ramadi: the Devil of Ramadi. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. Justin Nabours, a nuclear contractor who previously worked at Rough Creek Lodge, discovered Kyle and Littlefield's bodies as he arrived to introduce a client's son to Kyle. Chad Littlefield (February 11, 1977 February 2, 2013), This page was last edited on 19 October 2022, at 20:59. On another occasion he calmly broke off a phone conversation with his wife to fight off a fierce night attack. 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. By then, Chris Kyles legacy had grown significantly. After his death, Clint Eastwood directed a 2014 film, American Sniper, based on Kyles book. By the time Kyle returned home after four combat deployments in Iraq, with two Silver Stars and three Bronze Stars to his name, however, his time as a sniper had taken its toll. After the killings, Routh went to his sister's house in Midlothian and told her what he had done. 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. His intuition, though, wouldnt be enough to save him. Kyle and Littlefield had reportedly taken Routh to the gun range in an effort to help him with his post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), which he suffered from his time in the military. "[9] Four months later, while he was in his jail cell, Routh shared with former Erath County Sheriff's Deputy Gene Cole: "I was just riding in the back seat of the truck, and nobody would talk to me. [1][2][3], Chris Kyle had begun working with veterans after leaving the military. Born on April 8, 1974, in Odessa, Texas, Christopher Scott Kyle dreamt of joining the military from a young age. 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. It was a Chinese-made grenade and she had pulled out the pin just as a U.S. Marine foot patrol approached. I knew this would give me a voice so I could speak about the guys I know who were killed. [20] Hundreds of people, many waving American flags, lined Interstate 35 to view the procession and pay their final respects to Kyle. Ironically, the man whom the Iraqis couldnt kill despite placing a $20,000 bounty on his head fell victim to a former U.S. Marine veteran suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. 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. Everyone says a sniper has to be patient, Kyle told the Dallas Morning News. His military memoir went on to sell over 1.2 million copies and was later adapted into a Clint Eastwood film, American Sniper. [21][22], Littlefield's funeral was held on February 8, 2013, at the First Baptist Church of Midlothian, Texas; he was buried at Mount Zion cemetery. 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. Routh had spent the prior night with a woman, Moore said, behaving erratically and proposing marriage to her before telling her that he was "seeing things, he was hearing things telling her not to talk out loud, to write things down on paper because people were listening.". 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. I dont have to psych myself up, or do something special mentally, he said. Kick start your weekday mornings with news updates from Good Morning America (GMA) and Sundays with This Week with George Stephanopoulos. Kyle and his friend Chad Littlefield were shot and killed by a former Marine that they had taken to a gun range as therapy to address his PTSD in 2013. But on the other hand, Kyle had spent the final years leading up to his death helping other veterans readjust to civilian life. Christopher Scott Kyle (April 8, 1974 - February 2, 2013) was a United States Navy SEAL sniper. Those pistols were loaded with the safety on. 1. Taya Ranae Studebacker was born in Portland, Oregon, and is the daughter of the mayor of Lake Oswego, Kent Studebaker. Could new DNA tech crack the JonBenet Ramsey case? 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. (CBS/AP) LANCASTER, Texas - Authorities have seized a cellphone from the home of Iraq War veteran Eddie Routh, who is accused of killing former Navy SEAL sniper Chris Kyle and his friend. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. One of them he earned in Fallujah after he rescued a group of trapped Marines and two reporters. Subscribe now to get instant access to the real story behind Chris Kyle, in this issue of PEOPLE. "It seems to be run OK from the outside. Prosecutors are building a timeline of Eddie Ray Rouths actions before and after the murders. Routh embarked on a humanitarian mission to Haiti in January 2010, and was honorably discharged the following year. The Texas sheriff who was known for investigating the murder of "American Sniper" Chris Kyle was discovered deceased from a gunshot to his head, apparently self-inflicted. "It's a highfalutin' place," Zook said. We are no longer accepting comments on this article. Continue your flu-free streak with these tips to stay healthy this flu season. They were just taking me to the range, so I shot them, Routh told police in his rambling post-arrest interview. [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. You can find out more and change our default settings with Cookies Settings. 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. Prince Harry is dubbed 'a stupid boy' as growing number of ex-top brass criticise him for revealing his Charles's first royal RSVP! He was buried on February 12, 2013, at the Texas State Cemetery in Austin, after the funeral cortege journeyed from Midlothian to Austin, more than 200 miles (320km). I'm getting worried." Scene: The shooting took place at Rough Creek Lodge in Glen Rose, Texas earlier this month. 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. Decorated Sniper's Death Not Only Gun Disaster At Resort. The two men apparently never returned fire. Chris Kyle, author of American Sniper and the most lethal sniper in American military history, was killed on Feb. 2, 2013. It depicts Kyle's upbringing in Odessa, Texas, as the eldest of two boys, who grew up caring for up to 150 cattle. In the context of the Newtown, Conn., massacre and the renewed debate over gun control, the shooting death of Kyle made national headlines. Armed with a 9mm Sig Sauer P226 MK25 pistol and a Springfield .45 pistol, Routh shot Littlefield seven times and Kyle six times. 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? STEPHENVILLE, TX Another dramatic day of testimony in the American Sniper Trial. 5. 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. It was incredibly personal and intimate, says Miller. Kyle was one of two U.S. snipers who attracted a bounty on his head in Ramadi. 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. I was just making sure she didnt take any Marines with her, he wrote. [14], Routh's attorneys argued that he was insane at the time of the murders. I feel bad about it, but they wouldn't talk to me. I killed them. When Routh fled again, his sister called the police, telling them, Hes all crazy, hes fking psychotic.. Kyle later downplayed the long-range kill as a "really, really lucky shot". As a sniper his job was to hide himself away in a building and then pick off any enemies he could spot as other troops moved forward a role known as overwatch. To date, it has sold more than 800,000 copies. Paul Boccafogli, the resort's general manager, refused to answer questions about the lawsuit or last week's double homicide. Littlefield was hit seven times, including four that would have been instantly fatal. Jeffrey Barnard performed autopsies on both Chris Kyle, who inspired the popular recent movie "American Sniper," and his friend Chad Littlefield after they were killed Feb. 2, 2013 at a rifle. 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. Stay informed on the latest crime news with abcnews.com.ABC World News Tonight with David Muir Tune into ABC World News Tonight with David Muir for unparalleled reporting. From there, Kyle quickly proved his mettle as a marksman. Later, itll be up to his lawyers to convince jurors that mental illness kept him from knowing right from wrong. Details about Chris Kyle and Eddie Ray Routh's day emerged at trial. Chris Kyle was shot and killed at a shooting range in Erath County, Texas, alongside his friend Chad Littlefield on February 2, 2013. I would worry about him all the time. With his friend Chad Littlefield riding shotgun, Kyle picked up Routh and drove him to a shooting range at Rough Creek Lodge in rural Texas. Part of HuffPost Politics. After reading about Chris Kyles death at the hands of Eddie Ray Routh, discover the story of Simo Hyh, the deadliest sniper in history. You are also agreeing to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. It was hard, she says. Despite false claims he made in the autobiography about his medals of honor and a fictional altercation between himself and former Minnesota Governor Jesse Ventura, Kyles book made him famous. Coles worker fights a woman allegedly trying to steal groceries, Man ordered to take off a Jesus Saves t-shirt at Mall of America, Man knocked out by a pool cue in violent pub brawl, Locals desperately smash windows of overturned double-decker bus. Heres how. Eddie Routh had spent four years in the Marines but since leaving he had twice been hospitalized for mental illness. In life, Kyle became the deadliest sniper in American history and spent his final years helping veterans like himself to adjust to civilian life. Yet, at first, the day seemed to continue as normal. 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. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. The contrasting portraits emerged as Routh's murder trial got underway in a Stephenville, Texas, courtroom Wednesday. Is it time Harry & Meghan accept Clarkson's apology and move on? He remains jailed in Erath County on $3 million bond. 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. I didnt want it to be the thing that was hanging over their heads for the very rest of their lives as the film that showed their father getting shot, Hall explained. Routh is charged with one count of capital murder and two counts of murder. He served four tours in the Iraq War and was awarded several commendations for acts of heroism and meritorious service in combat. Born on April 8, 1974, in Odessa, Texas, Christopher Scott Kyle dreamt of joining the military from a young age. Routh was a 25-year-old Marine who had experienced post-traumatic stress disorder. [16], On February 24, 2015, Routh was found guilty of murdering Kyle and Littlefield. He testified that he told his client to call 911. Littlefield lay on the same deck nearby. Maybe I saw a little farther, maybe I anticipated trouble better than other people, he said. Bestseller: Kyle's naked hatred of enemies, who he described as savages shocked some, but the American Sniper became an instant bestseller, selling 800,000 copies to date. Both guns belonged to Kyle. Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? Even after several reconstructive surgeries, Long still cannot close his left thumb to his hand. 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. Christopher Scott Kyle was a United States Navy SEAL sniper and the deadliest marksman in U.S. military history. 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