Chris Kyle, record-holding sniper as Navy SEAL, killed in double slaying at Erath County gun range

dallasnews ^ | 03 February 2013 | TASHA TSIAPERAS

[JoeProBono]

Chris Kyle, a former Navy SEAL who was the U.S. military’s deadliest sharpshooter and wrote the best-selling book American Sniper, was fatally shot Saturday in a double slaying at an Erath County gun range, the U.S. Marshals Service said. Late Saturday, Lancaster police said they had arrested a man they say matched the description of a gunman wanted in the slayings.

After a brief chase, officers arrested 25-year-old Eddie Ray Routh, said Lt. Kelly Hooten, a department spokesman. Kyle was at a charity event at the gun range at Rough Creek Lodge and Resort on behalf of his Dallas-based security firm Craft International, said Hudson Hartson, a childhood friend of Kyle’s. Craft International often hosted law-enforcement training events at the location, which is near Glen Rose, about 50 miles southwest of Fort Worth. Investigators said that Routh, a former Marine who sources said is believed to suffer from post-traumatic stress syndrome, shot Kyle and the second victim at point-blank range.

No information was available on the second victim late Saturday. Erath County officials had issued an alert for authorities to be on the lookout for the gunman, who was believed to be armed and dangerous and driving a black Ford F-350 truck with large tires and rims. The suspect was believed to be highly trained with military experience.

[JoeProBono]

[JoeProBono]

Eddie Routh

[submarinerswife]

Trophy killing? Most lethal sniper in the History of the US and a famous SEAL, at that.

[nuconvert]

Looks like a driver’s license photo. Troubling eyes.

Here’s another photo that was posted on the original thread yesterday...

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2984764/posts?page=140#140

[Feckless]

RIP, brave American warrior. What I say next should not be taken as a joke or disrespectful:

He forgot the (other) Golden Rule, Be professional and courteous with everyone you meet and have a plan to kill them, if necessary.

[ronnie raygun]

Registered democrate, might he be?

[MeneMeneTekelUpharsin]

It is time for public hangings to return.

[nuconvert]

Saw one report that they were both shot in the back. Another that the neighbor guy was shot 1st and Kyle went to help him.

Certainly doesn’t seem they were cautious enough when they decided to hand a gun to a guy who has PTSD.

[MeneMeneTekelUpharsin]

Ecclesiastes 9:11 I again saw under the sun that the race is not to the swift, and the battle is not to the warriors, and neither is bread to the wise, nor wealth to the discerning, nor favor to men of ability; for time and chance overtake them all.

[deport]

Other threads if anyone is interested in the comments there on:

Author of "American Sniper" among the dead at Rough Creek (CHRIS KYLE MURDERED!)

Former Navy SEAL Chris Kyle Killed at Shooting Range; Suspect Arrested

Chris Kyle, Another Brother Lost

Renowned Navy SEAL Sniper Shot Dead At Texas Gun Range

[mountainlion]

Kyle has a large bounty on his head form several groups I suspect. I suspected ROP at first.

[deport]

snip

In all, he was awarded two Silver Stars, five Bronze Stars with Valor and two Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medals.

“I don’t care about the medals,” Kyle told the Star-Telegram in a 2012 interview. “I didn’t do it for the money or the awards. I did it because I felt like it was something that needed to be done and it was honorable. I loved the guys.”

A member of SEAL Team 3, Kyle picked off his targets from rooftops or windows of abandoned buildings during the 2003 war against Iraq, which toppled the Saddam Hussein regime. Primarily serving as a sniper and wounded twice, he provided “overwatch” protection for Marines and other U.S. troops and earned a reputation for his proficiency.

Most shots ranged from 200 to 1,200 yards. His longest, most remarkable kill — from 1.2 miles away — took out an insurgent aiming a rocket launcher at an approaching Army convoy.

Read more here: http://www.star-telegram.com/2013/02/02/4595767/top-navy-seal-sniper-killed-on.html#storylink=cpy

[yefragetuwrabrumuy]

Ease up on those hammers. The great odds are that this is a real PTSD mental illness deal.

I suspect the shooter went “temporarily insane”, shot the two men, and fled in his pickup. According to the stories, he offered no resistance to the police. He may or may not have even realized what he did. Just thought he was pulled over for some traffic violation.

To start with, he needs to have his head candled by a very competent psychiatrist, if for no other reason than to find out “how bad is ‘bad’?” This will not be easy, because often after a blow up like this the person will revert to normal behavior, even more normal than usual. But it is just a mask.

He has likely been such a severe case that he is showing physical, not just psychological, symptoms.

[Venturer]

What is happening in todays military?

The men who returned from WW2 did not have the problems these guys are having.

Was it because they were allowed to fight back and not hampered with Rules of Engagement?

They fought to win. Is that the problem> We have’t really fought to win since WW2.

[M1903A1]

There were indeed people with PTSD after WW2. Many who were unable to function in society for years...even a few who snapped and killed people. I think the difference is that it wasn’t an “unpopular war” in people’s minds, so the media didn’t make a big deal out of it...and when veterans did snap and kill people it was treated as local news, without the if-it-bleeds-it-leads sensationalism we’ve been seeing since Vietnam.

[Venturer]

I suppose you are right.

[ScoochDude]

It has nothing to do with the ROE.

Back in the '30's when our WWII vets were being raised, Jesus Christ was taught at home and school. These boys grew into men having a strong relationship with their Savior. When confronting evil, they had the power of The Spirit. So, the things they saw and had to do for their country could be coped with easier because they had The Great Comforter.

I personally don't believe in any mental illness. I think we let demons in by keeping God out. And since we as a nation, shun God, we see more of the works of the Prince of Lies.

[oh8eleven]

The men who returned from WW2 did not have the problems these guys are having.
BS. Every GI who goes into combat in any war gets PTSD to one degree or another. It's how they choose to deal with it (public and private) that makes the difference.
Quite frankly, I'm sick of hearing how tough the Iraq and Afghanistan vets have (or had) it. Many have hooches with AC, refrigerators, Internet access, satellite phones, three squares a day, etc.
No war is easy, but to say these vets had it worse than those who came before them, is just not true.

[The Mayor]

Welcome Home

[vetvetdoug]

Read Steven Ambrose' book, Citizen Soldiers, about the troops that served from June 7th, 1944, until May of 1945 in the battles of France, Maginot line, Hurtgen Forest, Battle of the Bulge, Falaise Pocket, Remagen Bridge and others. There were entire units that were sent to the rear for battle fatigue where the men couldn't even function. The conditions and terror these men went through were horrific. These men suffered high rates of depression and battle fatigue and came home with significant PTSD except it wasn't called that then.