Chris Kyle, who wrote a best-seller about his days as a sniper, was one
of two men killed near Fort Worth, authorities say. A suspect is in
custody.
FULL STORY
(CNN) -- A former Navy SEAL, author of the
best-selling autobiography "American Sniper," was one of two people
killed Saturday at a gun range, authorities said.
SEAL: Insurgents knew how to identify me
Ex-Navy sniper killed at Texas gun range
Ex-Navy sniper killed at Texas gun range
February 3, 2013 -- Updated 1453 GMT (2253 HKT)
Kos: Kyle always wanted to help people
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
- NEW: Chris Kyle declared himself the "most lethal sniper in U.S. history"
- Eddie Ray Routh faces two counts of capital murder
- Kyle recounted his days as a sniper in a best-seller
- Kyle said Iraqi insurgents nicknamed him "the devil"
Chris Kyle, 38, who declared himself the
"most lethal sniper in U.S. history," was killed along with 35-year-old
Chad Littlefield on Saturday afternoon in Glen Rose, Texas, southwest
of Fort Worth, the Texas Department of Public Safety said.
Police arrested suspect
Eddie Ray Routh, 25, after a brief pursuit. He is facing two counts of
capital murder, the department said.
Kyle, an outspoken
advocate for war veterans, claimed more than 150 sniper killings in
Iraq, which he described as a record for any American. He said
insurgents placed a bounty on his head and nicknamed him "the devil."
SEAL: Insurgents knew how to identify me
Ex-Navy sniper killed at Texas gun range
He appeared last year on the NBC reality show "Stars Earn Stripes," in which competitors took on missions based on military exercises.
"He was a man of
incredible character, he led by example," Jason Kos, a friend of Kyle's,
told CNN. "He always stopped to take time to talk to whoever was around
him. Just incredibly humble, very funny as well."
Kyle helped establish the nonprofit Fitco Cares Foundation to enable veterans battling post-traumatic stress syndrome get access to exercise equipment.
In a statement, the foundation described Kyle as an "American hero" and pledged to carry on his mission.
Kyle served four combat tours in Iraq and received two Silver Stars, among other commendations.
He left the Navy in 2009.
During an interview with
Time magazine last year, Kyle defended his decision to write a book
despite the secretive nature of the SEAL world.
"It's kind of frowned
on," he told the magazine. "But I'm not trying to glorify myself. I
didn't want to put the number of kills I had in there. I wanted to get
it out about the sacrifices military families have to make."
He said that while killing did not come easy at first, he knew it meant saving lives.
"The first time, you're
not even sure you can do it," he said in the interview. "But I'm not
over there looking at these people as people. I'm not wondering if he
has a family. I'm just trying to keep my guys safe. Every time I kill
someone, he can't plant an (improvised explosive device). You don't
think twice about it."
Before becoming a sniper, Kyle was a Texas rodeo cowboy. He started shooting as a child during hunting trips with his father.
After leaving the military, he founded Craft International, a military training company.
His bio on the company website says that in addition to working with the SEALs, he served with units in the Army and Marines.
His combat experience includes close-quarters battle, desert patrols and training foreign allies, it says.
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