Man, 25, charged over murder of top US sniper

A 25-year-old man has been charged with murder in connection with a shooting at a Texas gun range that killed former Navy SEAL and American Sniper author Chris Kyle and his friend.

Police said Eddie Ray Routh of Lancaster was arraigned on two counts of capital murder.

Erath County Sheriff’s deputies responded to a call about a shooting at the Rough Creek Lodge, at about 5.30pm on Saturday.

Police found the bodies of Kyle, 38, and Chad Littlefield, 35, at the shooting range.

Police said Routh opened fire on Kyle and Littlefield then fled in a pickup truck. He arrived at his home near Dallas and was arrested after a brief pursuit. Routh is being held on a combined $3 million bond. The motive for the shooting is unclear.

Kyle, a decorated veteran, wrote the best-selling book, American Sniper: The Autobiography of the Most Lethal Sniper in US Military History, detailing his 150-plus kills of insurgents from 1999 to 2009.

According to promotional information from book publisher William Morrow, Kyle was deployed to Iraq four times.

Kyle helped start the non-profit Fitco Cares, which provides at-home fitness equipment for emotionally and physically wounded veterans.

Travis Cox, the organisation’s director and a friend of Kyle’s, said yesterday: “What I know is Chris and a gentleman - great guy, I knew him well, Chad Littlefield - took a veteran out shooting who was struggling with PTSD to try to assist him, try to help him, try to, you know, give him a helping hand and he turned the gun on both of them, killing them.”

Littlefield was Kyle’s neighbour and “workout buddy,” Cox said. He was a gentle, kind-hearted man who often called or e-mailed Cox with ideas for events or fundraisers to help veterans.

“Chris was literally the type of guy if you were a veteran and needed help he’d help you,” Cox said.

“And from my understanding that’s what happened here. I don’t know how he came in contact with this gentleman, but I do know that it was not through the foundation.

“It was just two great guys with Chad and Chris trying to help out a veteran in need and making time out of their day to help him. And to give him a hand. And unfortunately this thing happened.”