Former marine charged in shooting death of “American Sniper” author Chris Kyle
An assault rifle is purchased on Dec. 17, 2012 in Tinsley Park, IL.
A former Marine was charged with murdering his friend, ex Navy SEAL and author of "American Sniper", Chris Kyle, at a Texas shooting range.
Eddie Ray Routh was charged with two counts of capital murder in the deaths of Kyle, 38, and Chad Littlefield, 35, at the shooting range about 50 miles southwest of Fort Worth, reports the Washington Post.
Kyle became well known for writing "American Sniper: The Autobiography of the Most Lethal Sniper in U.S. Military History", a best-selling book that detailed the more than 150 insurgents that Kyle had killed between 1999 and 2009, reports NPR.
Sheriff Tommy Bryant told the Texas Empire Tribune that the bodies of Kyle and Littlefield were found dead at Rough Creek's shooting range between 3:30 and 4 p.m. Saturday.
Bryant told the paper that Routh shot the victims at point-blank range before fleeing in Kyle's truck.
The US military confirmed to AP Sunday that Routh was in the Marines from 2006 to 2010 and was deployed to Iraq in 2007. According to AP, Routh's current status is reserve.
Officer Kyle Roberts at the Erath County Jail told AP that Routh is being held on $3 million bond.
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