A former Tarleton State University student who wrote the best-selling book, "American Sniper," was one of two victims shot and killed at Rough Creek Lodge Saturday.
Chris Kyle, 38, and another man were found dead at Rough Creek's shooting range between 3:30 and 4 p.m. Saturday, according to Sheriff Tommy Bryant.
Eddie Ray Routh, an Iraqi war veteran, was arrested hours later after a manhunt led authorities to Lancaster where Routh was taken into custody just before 9 p.m. Saturday.
Routh, 25, is expected to be charged with capital murder.
Investigators had not released the name of the second victim at press time, but reports indicate he may have been Routh's neighbor.
Bryant said the three men were at the shooting range Saturday when Routh shot the victims at point-blank range before fleeing in Kyle's truck .
Kyle was a former Navy SEAL who served four tours of duty in Iraq, where he was given the nickname "The Devil of Ramadi" by insurgents.
In 2008, he made his longest successful shot after he spotted an insurgent with a rocket launcher near a U.S. Army convoy at a range of 2,100 yards (1.2 miles).
Kyle was recently honored by the Tarleton Alumni Association as the Outstanding Young Alumnus for 2013.
"Our hearts go out to Chris’ family and friends at this tragic moment,” Tarleton State University President, Dr. Dominic Dottavio, said. “We are proud of his exemplary service to our nation and are deeply saddened to hear the news of this tragic event.”
Kyle leaves behind a wife, Taya, and two children.
from Your Stephenville TX.com by Sara Vanden Berge Posted: Saturday, February 2, 2013 8:40 pm | Updated: 10:22 pm, Sat Feb 2, 2013.
I am saddened to have to announce the tragic loss of another one of
our own. This has been a hard year for the Special Operations
community, perhaps the SEAL community most of all.Today Chris
Kyle was shot and killed at a shooting range at the Rough Creek Lodge in
Texas, murdered along with a second individual.
Chris had been
volunteering his time to help Marine Corps veterans suffering from PTSD
and mentoring them. Part of this process involved taking these veterans
to the range where one of them snapped and killed Chris and his
neighbor for reasons that remain unknown at this time. The perpetrator
then stole Chris’ vehicle in an attempt to escape but we have received
word that the police have since arrested him.
Chris Kyle served as
a sniper in the US Navy SEALs and is best known to the American public
from writing his memoir, “American Sniper.” After his service, Chris
ran a training program called The Craft. Although recognized as
America’s deadliest sniper, Chris was known to friends as a very down to
earth and humble man. He was also a friend of SOFREP and worked
closely with Brandon Webb on a recent project of ours.
I just got
off the phone with Brandon who is understandably upset over losing
another friend not long after laying Glen Doherty to rest a few months
ago. The entire SOF community is still in shock over this incident, and
we will have more to say on the matter as the situation develops.
Right now it is simply the time to have a moment of silence for Chris Kyle and his friend who was murdered alongside him.
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