http://www.wfaa.com/news/local/rough-cre...36271.html

A former Navy Seal, expert sniper and best-selling author was reportedly gunned down at a Texas shooting range Saturday by a veteran who is recovering from post-traumatic stress syndrome.

Ex-Navy Seal Chris Kyle, 39, and another man were shot point-blank around 3:30 p.m. at a charity event on behalf of Kyle's security firm at the gun range at Rough Creek Lodge and Resort in Erath County.

The suspect, 25-year-old Eddie Ray Routh, was arrested roughly five hours later in Lancaster, Texas after a police chase. He was driving Kyle's truck at the time of the arrest, police said.

Investigators told ABC affiliate WFAA-TV that Routh is a former Marine who was suffering from post-traumatic stress syndrome.

Kyle, a husband and father of two, authored the New York Times best-seller 'American Sniper,' which chronicled his four tours in Iraq. The book hit shelves last month.

He recorded more than 150 sniper kills - the most in U.S. military history - between 1999 and 2009.

His military awards include two Silver Stars, five Bronze Stars with Valor, two Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medals, and one Navy and Marine Corps Commendation.

While in Iraq, Kyle survived being shot twice and he lived through six separate IED explosions as his unit, Charlie company of SEAL Team Three, saw significant combat.

Despite the astonishing number of people he has shot, Kyle has said he never second-guessed himself since the first time he had to pull the trigger on a grenade-wielding woman in Iraq.

It was my duty to shoot the enemy, and I don’t regret it. My regrets are for the people I couldn’t save: Marines, soldiers, buddies. I’m not naive, and I don’t romanticize war,' he told Texas Monthly. 'The worst moments of my life have come as a SEAL. But I can stand before God with a clear conscience about doing my job.'

He left the service in 2009 in order to 'save his marriage' he told his publisher.

After leaving the Navy, he started his own military contracting firm, Craft International, which provides military and law enforcement sniper training, as well as private security and protection.



Credits

So sad and troubling about this whole situation.

I don't know who came up with the therapy, but having folks suffering from PTSD around firearms seems like a reaaaallllly bad idea. Especailly combat PTSD.

Very sad.

geesh how sad.

"The two men had taken another veteran, 25-year-old Eddie Ray Routh, there for the day in an effort to help him deal with his post traumatic stress syndrome, reports WFAA-TV. Multiple local news agencies are reporting that investigators have told them Routh turned his weapon on Kyle and Littlefield, killing them at point blank range."

I know that sometimes people with PTSD really feel lonely and isolated and want someone to connect and relate to. since this guy was a veteran they were probably going to the shooting range thinking this was something they would all enjoy and be able to relate easily. PTSD is definitely no joke and can be really tough to deal with. I have witnessed my brother go through it and his is from combat and he refuses to get help even though it is available to him. there is a stigmatism, if that is the right word, about getting help and being weak but really left untreated is really worse even though it's not not pleasant or fun to go through.

I am sad for him, his family and the other man and his family who also lost his life.

more of story at link:
http://radaronline.com/exclusives/2013/0...gun-range/

Lt. Cmdr. Rorke Denver, who served with Kyle on SEAL Team 3 in Iraq in 2006, called Kyle a champion of the modern battlefield.

“Everybody was aware in 2006 that something special or something unique with his skill set was developing and starting to grow and then it just carried on until he hung up his guns, at least in an active military capacity, and moved on,” Denver said. His book, “Damn Few,” about training SEALs, will be released this month.

Denver wasn’t surprised that Kyle apparently used a shooting range to help someone with PTSD.

“For us, for warriors, that’s a skill set that has become very familiar, very comfortable for us,” said Denver, a lieutenant commander in a reserve SEAL team. “So I actually see it as kind of a perfect use of Chris’ unique skill set and expertise of which he has very few peers.”

What a heartbreaking situation this is. This PTSD is without a doubt very scarey, plainly some can cope with War and others cannot & end up doing awful deeds like this to friends trying to help. Not to find fault but, a shooting range for the shooter was not a good idea, I'm sure paranoia is involved from time to time and something sure set him off by going to the range.

Killer..

Tragic.

(02-03-2013, 06:07 PM)username Wrote: Tragic.

Naw, lots of killers wear their facial hair like that.

(02-03-2013, 06:20 PM)OnBendedKnee Wrote:

(02-03-2013, 06:07 PM)username Wrote: Tragic.

Naw, lots of killers wear their facial hair like that.

What's that pole looking thing? It looks like he's being impaled. *wishful thinking*

It's something how killers are usually always identified by the full name.

Billy Ray Cyrus better keep his nose clean.

I would make a good sniper. There are many people I could think about as I pulled the trigger.

"What's that pole looking thing? It looks like he's being impaled." *wishful thinking*

Most arrestees hold the clapboard. Those that refuse to- such as the case with this dude- is presented on the end of a type of wand. (The camera angle makes it look thicker than it actually is*).
Even after he's arrested this guy displays he's a douche.






*I know the joke.

(02-03-2013, 05:26 PM)NightOwl Wrote: What a heartbreaking situation this is. This PTSD is without a doubt very scarey, plainly some can cope with War and others cannot & end up doing awful deeds like this to friends trying to help. Not to find fault but, a shooting range for the shooter was not a good idea, I'm sure paranoia is involved from time to time and something sure set him off by going to the range.

i agree with everything you just said. There are other forms of PTSD out there too, non combat, and it is important for all forms of PTSD to get help. it really is interesting to see how people are just not able to cope sometimes, maybe interesting isn't the word. I know that when a person seeks help even then they will have days that are bad days that just seem like a break down when the "tools" aren't working and they are having a bad day. thry need a strong support system and good family and friends, sad this guy just killed two of them.

(02-03-2013, 08:11 PM)username Wrote:

(02-03-2013, 06:20 PM)OnBendedKnee Wrote:

(02-03-2013, 06:07 PM)username Wrote: Tragic.

Naw, lots of killers wear their facial hair like that.

What's that pole looking thing? It looks like he's being impaled. *wishful thinking*

maybe he wasn't being cooperative and so they use the pole to keep them against the wall to make them say "cheese" till they can get a good picture? just an idea? it does look like he was impaled though I had to look twice!

Funeral services for Chris Kyle.Read notes from his children on back of one of the programs.


http://twitchy.com/2013/02/11/beautiful-...tos-video/

*gasp* Michelle Malkin! Ohmaigods! Quick, make the hex sign.

I like her she's got some grasp of reality a good head.
Now michelle Malken on the other hand has a dumb head put nice body.